The 18-year-old was kicked and punched unconcious in a street. The attack was so ferocious it bent the plate which had been put in following a previous accident.

Medics made the shock discovery while treating him for his injuries. The teenager received a broken wrist and arm after the incident at the rear of Sunderland Road, Horden, not far from the Legion Club.

The victim had been out with friends in Horden on Saturday night and was about to set off for his home in Peterlee around 10pm.

Police say the next thing he remembers is waking up in the street with injuries to his left arm.

While being treated at Sunderland Royal Hospital, it emerged that a metal plate that had been fitted previously to the teenager's arm had been bent out of shape by the force of the blows.

This dislodged the plate, and resulted in a new fracture to his arm, along with a broken wrist.

The victim also suffered cuts and bruises to his face.
PC Helen Richardson, of Durham Police, said: "Doctors have told us it would have taken considerable force to dislodge the plate, it could not have happened by accident.

"It would seem the victim has been punched or kicked unconscious and we need to hear from anyone who may have seen what happened.

"The street where it happened is the main road through Horden and at that time on a Saturday night it will have been busy with plenty of people around.

"I would ask them to come forward and help us establish what happened."
Today, shocked locals said an "alcohol culture" may have played a part in what happened.

Helen Ord, 56, a mother-of-three and grandmother-of-four, from Horden, said: "I think it's all pub-related I really do. It's quiet where I live. I don't go out drinking but things like this always seem to happen on a weekend when the pubs come out. It always seems to be the revellers."

Billy Cook, a 69-year-old retired caterer who has three grown-up children and three grandchildren, also from Horden, said: "It's not really that bad round here. You get trouble just when people are spilling out of the pubs, apart from that there's not much trouble.
It's not as bad as some communities."

Anyone with information regarding the alleged attack should contact Peterlee Police on (0845) 6060365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555 111.