TWO firefighters were badly beaten when they stepped in to break up a fight – just hours after attending the funeral of a hero colleague killed in the Shirley Towers blaze.

The pair need hospital treatment for the injuries they suffered after trying to stop a violent row between a couple outside a pub.

One of the firemen was left on the ground unconscious after being punched in the face, causing his eye socket to fracture.

His friend suffered cuts and bruising to his face after he was also punched repeatedly.

The attack happened just a short walk from the block of flats where a fire claimed the lives of their two colleagues, Alan Bannon and James Shears, last month.

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The two off-duty firefighters, aged 36 and 28, had both returned to Southampton earlier in the day after attending the funeral of Mr Shears in Poole, Dorset.

They were together having a drink in the Shirley Hotel, in Shirley High Street, when they saw a couple having a furious argument outside.

Detectives say the two friends went out to try to diffuse the situation but one of the firemen was hit in the face by a man, who then ran across the road towards Shirley Precinct.

The two men ran after him but were then attacked again, this time by two men, leaving one of the firemen unconscious on the ground with a cut to his face.

Both attackers then ran off while the two victims were taken to Southampton General Hospital. One of the firefighters had to have 20 stitches to his face.

Detectives in Shirley are now leading the investigation and are urging witnesses or anyone who knows who may be responsible to come forward.

The assaults took place between 9.30pm and 10pm last Friday night while the area was known to be busy with pub-goers.

Police believe there were a large number of people outside the pubs and passing by who may have witnessed the attacks.

One of the attackers is described as around 5ft 10in tall, aged in his 20s, and the other is thought to be in his 30s.

Assistant Chief Officer Kevin Butcher, head of community response at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is extremely sad that these men, who risk their own safety to protect the lives of others, have been senselessly attacked.

“Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service takes verbal and physical abuse of our staff very seriously and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call PC Steve Lanham at Shirley CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.