A 34-year-old man had a Biro removed from his head after he was stabbed a street fight.

He needed an operation remove half the ballpoint pen from the side of his head on Monday morning.

A 31-year-old man was arrested and has been questioned by detectives.

The two men, who are believed to know each other, got into an argument in Lewes Road, Brighton, late on Monday night.

One lashed out at the other with the pen.

It slipped under the skin at the side of his temple and ran along the side of his head above his ear.

It snapped in two, leaving half the pen inside.

The fight took place near the Booze Factor off licence, on the edge of the Vogue Gyratory one-way system, at about 10pm.

Owner Koray Tatlidede told The Argus he called an ambulance when he saw the victim's injury.

He was working behind the counter when the man, a regular customer, came in with blood on his hands.

Mr Tatlidede said: "I know him. He's a good guy.

"I asked him what happened to his hands. He said: 'I don't know what happened.' "I noticed a very small hole in his head."

The victim waited at the shop for an ambulance to arrive.

Paramedics called police who arrested a 31-year-old on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

The victim had an operation at Royal Sussex County Hospital yesterday (Tues) in which the pen was successfully removed.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "This is an unusual weapon, and an unusual injury.

"Thankfully the pen went along the side of the head rather than penetrating his skull."

Anyone who saw the incident is asked to call DC Mark Pinder at Brighton CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.