Five men have been jailed for stabbing four revellers in front of Palace Pier in Brighton.

One victim was left fighting for his life after being stabbed nine times. Others had blood pouring from their faces and torsos.

The five attackers, who are all aged 20 and come from Sheerness in Kent, were imprisoned for a total of 17 and a half years at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

Patrick Scurfield, of Alma Road, Ben Scurfield, of High Street, Lee Laing, of East Church Road, and Jason and Jamie Yates, of Invicta Road, were all were found guilty of violent disorder last month.

Each was sentenced to three and a half years in jail.

They were part of a group of more than ten who came to Brighton from the Isle of Sheppey in November last year.

A fight broke out between the group and a party of friends from Burgess Hill, who were celebrating a birthday at the Escape Club.

Nicola Kernohan, 25, was among the group from Mid Sussex.

She said: "We had just come out of the club and there was a minibus outside the pier. We asked if it was available but the driver said he was taking a group of guys back to Kent."

Miss Kernohan said she walked past but it became clear a fight had broken out after one of her friends was headbutted.

Four men from Burgess Hill were surrounded and stabbed.

Matthew Staplehurst, 24, spent four days in the Royal Sussex County Hospital after the attack and underwent emergency surgery.

He said: "I don't think they got what they deserved. There are four of us lucky to be alive today - it could have been a lot different. "

Det Con Gary Pattison from Brighton CID said he was pleased with the convictions.

He said: "It was a vicious attack and we believe at least two of the group had knives.

"Some of the wounds were superficial but others were jabs into the side of the face and bodies. Matthew could have died."