Police responding to a disturbance at a Southmead pub told a jury they saw a man throw a pint glass which struck a female police officer in the face.

PC Ross Kilcoyne said he was first into the Wayfarer pub when he and colleagues were called there, and he saw Damien Gordon draw his right arm back "like a baseball pitcher" and throw it towards the officers.

He said he pushed Gordon down to the floor on all fours and arrested him, aware that PC Henrietta Staveley-Brown was cupping her face and was injured.

The court has heard the 40-year-old officer – known as 'Hen' – needed 26 stitches to a cut on her forehead and eyelid.

Gordon, 28, of Lockleaze, denies causing her grievous bodily harm with intent and also denies battery against PC Oomesh Danhawoor, who took him to the police station afterwards.

PC Kilcoyne told the jury when he first entered the pub, he saw 30 to 35 men and women standing on a raised area around four metres from him.

He said: "The manner of the group was instantly very hostile towards our police presence.

"With raised voices and their body language. the mood appeared to be quite aggressive."

PC Kilcoyne said he saw a man at the front of the group, who raised his arm above his head and threw a pint glass at the police officers.

He said: "I raised my baton high above my head and extended it to its full length.

"I approached the man as fast as I could. I shouted to him to get on the floor and he did. He raised both his hands high into the air and bowed his head down forwards.

"I took hold of his left arm; it was Damien Gordon, the defendant."

The officer next described how, having arrested Gordon for injuring his colleague, the atmosphere was becoming more and more hostile.

He said he was then assaulted when Sean Teddy threw a pint glass into his shin.

Teddy, 32, of Lawrence Weston, has pleaded guilty to battery.

PC Michelle Maunder said she heard a "whooshing sound" as an object flew by her.

She said: "I turned around to my right. I saw PC Staveley-Brown thrown backwards at least two metres, onto the ground.

"I didn't see the object but it struck her with force. There was a thud noise as it connected, it bowled her over."

PC Maunder said her colleague had an open wound on her forehead which was bleeding heavily and, concerned she might die, she picked her up, led her out of the pub and was advised by her Inspector to drive her to Frenchay Hospital for treatment.

PC Gareth Pike said he felt "instantly outnumbered" when he entered the pub, and he noticed Gordon at the front of a group.

He said: "He threw something like a pitcher throwing a baseball, overarm with great ferocity. I could not see what the object was."

PC Mike Vass said he saw Gordon throw a pint glass as if he was aiming it, and he described seeing PC Staveley-Brown on her knees.

He said a handcuffed Gordon kicked out three times on the shoulder of PC Danhawoor in the back of a police car.

The case continues.