Drunken football hooligans on a day trip from London beat a woman's face so savagely she may never work again.

A gang of 35 Charlton Athletic supporters on a boozy outing pounced on the victim as she tried to stop them assaulting a couple in the street.

Last night a colleague of the woman told The Argus she was waiting for an operation to rebuild her smashed eye socket, nose and jaw.

The gang of football fans had spent the day drinking in Hastings town centre before running riot in the town.

The men left the John Logie Baird Wetherspoons pub in Havelock Road after shouting abuse at women but three hours later reappeared and attacked a man and woman who were enjoying a night out.

Two of the yobs punched the man to the ground before they kicked and stamped on his limp body.

Samurai Security door staff from the John Logie Baird pub ran over to help.

One of the doormen was immediately punched and fell to the floor.

His female colleague was then hit on the back of the head and punched in the face, causing the devastating injuries that led to her being rushed to hospital.

John Wilson, 47, the manager of Samurai Security, said: "I have been in this job for 28 years and it was one of the worst attacks I have seen.

"The group was giving the man's girlfriend some abuse. When they attacked him I ran over to help and some of my other door staff followed.

"The female member of staff went over to protect her colleague, who had been knocked to the floor.

"She was punched on the back of the head, she turned round and put her hands up to protect her face, then the guy looked her in the eyes and hit her.

"She's in a bad way and needs facial reconstruction. It will be the end of her career. She's a wife and a mother and it must be hard on the family."

Samurai Security staff are giving some of their wages to help their colleague because door staff are self-employed and cannot get insurance.

Police arrested three men in Havelock Road after the 9pm attack on Saturday.

The rest of the gang ran to their double decker bus to escape but police caught up with them and arrested another three men.

All were questioned on suspicion of violent offences including grievous bodily harm, assault and affray. They have been released on bail while officers carry out further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Paul Phelps, of Hastings CID, said: "The group appears to be affiliated with Charlton Athletic Football Club.

"They had documents in their possession with the club logo and which mentioned 'Charlton jolly boys' day out'."

Charlton Athletic Supporters Club's Hastings and Bexhill branch said they were unaware of the attack. Charlton Athletic Supporters Club declined to comment.