A policeman described how a nightclub doorman appeared to have "superhuman strength" as blows from police batons had no effect on him.

Ian Jackson was hit repeatedly on the arms and legs by officers called to a disturbance outside the Honeyclub on Brighton seafront, a court heard.

PC Spencer Scott said even a blow over the head appeared at first to have little effect on the bouncer who was on a stag night out from Crawley.

He described Jackson, 6ft 8in tall, as one of the biggest men he had ever seen.

PC Spencer was among officers called to the Honeyclub after customers and its doormen were allegedly attacked by stag night revellers.

He told a jury at Hove Crown Court yesterday that he arrived to find some of the group kicking and hitting a man who was on the ground.

As he feared for the man's life, he ran to the group with his baton raised and shouted at them to leave the man alone.

PC Scott said: "I felt a blow to the back of my head and someone got me in a headlock. It was the big man. Someone pulled him off me."

He said members of the group continued to be aggressive and were bitten by a police dog after ignoring warnings to back off.

Robert Cohen, 25, of Climping Road, Ifield; Simon Grimmer, 26, of Abinger Drive, Redhill; Wayne Howell, 26, and Jackson, 37, of Roffey Close, Horley, deny violent disorder on March 1, 2001. The trial continues.