A late-night assault which left two men with head injuries started in a venue notorious for violence, police have confirmed.

Yesterday (January 27), Essex Police said they believe the incident at 1.15am on Sunday – which left two 23-year-old men requiring hospital treatment – started inside LuXe night club in Loughton High Road.

It is the latest in a string of violent incidents at the club.

In May last year two men were left with serious head injuries after a fight inside the club, in 2013 a man’s face was fractured so badly he could not talk to police, and in 2011 the club was linked to a 150-person brawl.

The father of one of the victims of Sunday’s assault has spoken out after the attack.

He said: “My son could have been blinded, it is very, very frightening… it is an unprovoked attack and it has left a sour taste.”

His son had been in the club’s VIP area for a birthday party, he said, before “a lot of guys” also tried to enter.

The father claimed that after they were asked to leave the area due to overcrowding, the men started throwing bottles at his son and his friends.

He said: “They left by a fire escape and next thing he remembers was waking up in hospital.

“He was taken to Whipps Cross for concussion and had stitches.

“He is a young 23-year-old, he’s a good kid.”

As well as being hit by bottles, the man was also kicked in the spine.

His father said: “He was knocked out, he was out cold, and he was kicked in the back of the head and in the neck.

“It is very cowardly from anyone.

“He was leaving, got hit by a bottle and then kicked while he was on the floor – the police closed the road because there was so much blood. “

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Police were contacted at around 1.20am on Sunday, January 24 with reports that two 23-year-old men had been assaulted in Loughton High Road following a disturbance in the street involving a large group of people.

“Officers attended and found two men had sustained head injuries which required hospital treatment.

“They have both since been discharged.

“Police are making enquiries and ask anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch.”

They described one suspect as mixed race and of stocky build, aged between 20 and 25 with short black hair.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact police officers in Loughton by phoning 101.