Former E17 star has skin graft after attack

The former E17 singer Brian Harvey has had emergency surgery after being the victim of what police believe was an axe or machete attack.

He was set upon by a group of four or five men outside The Works nightclub in Nottingham early yesterday, just after he had finished a sell-out performance.

Mr Harvey, 27, from Walthamstow, east London, needed skin graft treatment to the back of his head after the assault.

Nottinghamshire police are investigating what sparked the attack and detectives will seek to interview Mr Harvey when he comes round after the anaesthetic. Detective Inspector Dave Hoare said he was unsure of the weapon used to strike Mr Harvey on the back of the head, as he left the club with two women at about 1.40am. "It could have been with an axe, a knife or a machete. We do not know at this stage," he said.

The Works nightclub released a statement which traced the last few movements of the star before his attack. It said the attack had taken place about 100 yards from the club, near where Mr Harvey's car was parked.