A man has been accused of biting off his girlfriend’s cheek in a drug-fuelled attack.

The assault is alleged to have taken place in broad daylight in a Brighton park.

Police found the unnamed woman’s cheek discarded in Wild Park, off Lewes Road, following the horrific incident at 11am on Saturday.

A quick-thinking police officer scooped the cheek up and raced it to hospital.

People in the park, currently occupied by traveller families with children, witnessed the reported assault.

Doctors on Saturday battled to reattach the woman’s cheek to her face. The woman will now have to wait a week to find out if the cheek has taken or whether she will require further surgery.

Detective Sergeant Mark Rosser said: “A couple and a friend were walking together in Wild Park when a row broke out.

“The man bit off the woman’s cheek.

“He was biting her face and she fell to the ground. A witness saw this and called the police.

“Police arrived immediately and restrained the man who was arrested.

“An officer picked up the cheek and took it to hospital where it was reattached to the woman’s face.”

The officer said it was believed the man had taken LSD, a powerful psychedelic drug.

He added Sussex Police would always work to tackle domestic abuse, urging victims to come forward.

Writer Simon Richards, 29, of Shanklin Road, Brighton, has been charged with grievous bodily harm. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today.

Witnesses to the assault should call Sussex Police on 101.