A gay couple were assaulted verbally and physically on Christmas day, with the confrontation starting after one of them was abused for being Jewish.

Jayson Homer and his partner were in a pub in Stockton on Tees, in County Durham, when Mr Homer’s Jewish partner, who did not wish to be named, was targeted.

The victim told the local paper, Gazette Live: “At first a girl in the group started taking the mick out of me for being Jewish.

“Then another lad from the group came over saying being Jewish was a race. I was disagreeing with him and it was just a little debate really at first.

“But then the girl started shouting ‘queer’ at me. Every time I went to the toilet someone said it while I was walking past.”

The couple and the friends they were with eventually decided to leave the pub, but were subsequently attacked, and Mr Homer was struck in the face with a bottle. According to the Gazette, he required a CT scan to check for brain damage.

Mr Homer’s Jewish partner suffered heavy bruising, a broken nose and several suspected cracked ribs.

“We didn’t want any trouble”, said Mr Homer.

“I could understand if we had provoked them but we were just minding our own business. They started off calling us and then it escalated.”

Cleveland police are investigating the incident, with a spokeswoman confirming that “inquiries are continuing, to establish those involved in this affray”.