POLICE have made a fresh appeal for information after a man slashed with a broken bottle was left fighting for his life.

Officers investigating the assault on Robert Holden have released CCTV images of three cars that drove past the incident outside The Encore pub in Commercial Road, Southampton.

Last night it was revealed Mr Holden's carotid artery - which supplies the brain with blood - was severed in the attack.

Police believe that motorists who were near The Encore at the time of the incident could prove to be vital witnesses and are urging them to come forward.

Mr Holden, of Southampton, was standing outside the pub when he was attacked in the early hours of last Saturday.

The 29-year-old father of two was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries but has since made a remarkable recovery and has now been discharged.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Mr Holden's family say his life was saved by a policeman who was in the area at the time.

PC Nick Spratt packed Mr Holden's wound with a dressing and held his throat with both hands to staunch the flow of blood.

Last night a police spokesman said: "The man who was assaulted is lucky to be alive, having sustained a laceration that severed his carotid artery.

"We are specifically looking to trace the drivers and passengers of several cars that were seen to drive past the incident."

Detective Inspector Adam Edwards, leading the investigation, said several people had been investigated in connection with the attack but had been eliminated from the inquiry.

He added: "A significant number of vehicles and people were in the area at the time of the incident and I'm appealing directly to those people to come forward.

“We believe they are key witnesses and can assist us with our investigation.

“I'm particularly interested in the drivers of three vehicles that were captured on CCTV. A group of males in a dark-coloured saloon-type car stopped at the roadside and assisted the victim."

Det Insp Edwards also urged any taxi drivers who were in the area at the time to check their dash cam footage.

Mr Holden's family say his wound was so severe that the hunt could his attacker could easily have turned into a murder inquiry.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101, quoting reference number 44170281379.