SHOCKED onlookers watched in horror as a man was stabbed in the face after fighting broke out in a York street.

The victim, believed to be in his early 20s, was caught up in a scuffle with a group of men in Goodramgate, when he suddenly collapsed in the doorway of the Bengal Brasserie Indian restaurant, eyewitnesses said.

A 26-year-old man, who wished to remain anonymous, saw the incident while cycling past at about 6pm last night.

He told how he and a nurse, who happened to be walking nearby, went to help the man and discovered the knife embedded in his cheek, just below the temple.

Waiters at the restaurant raised the alarm, while the nurse put the man into the recovery position and tried to stem the bleeding with a cloth.

Paramedics arrived and took him to York Hospital where he was today in a comfortable condition.

Police officers cordoned off Goodramgate between The Royal Oak and The Cross Keys pub for several hours as scenes of crime officers carried out a search.

The 26-year-old witness said: "There were four or five of them all fighting in the street when the lad went down.

"At first, some people thought about pulling the knife out, but I stopped them as the bleeding would have got worse.

"It was a horrible sight, there was blood going everywhere. He was screaming out in pain and foaming at the mouth. The other lads had run off by the time the police turned up.

"The nurse was great at keeping everyone calm."

Dave Smith, landlord of The Royal Oak pub, also witnessed the scuffle.

"There were five or six of them kicking and shouting at each other," he said.

"One man then just collapsed into the doorway and all panic broke out."

Iqbal Chowdhuray, general manager of the Bengal Brasserie, whose staff alerted the police and ambulance service, said the restaurant was still closed when the fighting broke out.

"It's most unfortunate. I hope the man pulls through," he said.

"We cancelled our bookings as the road was cordoned off. We don't want this happening in Goodramgate."

A police spokesman said today that a 20- year-old local man had been arrested in relation to the incident.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, March 02, 2004