A husband reportedly bit off his wife’s nose and ate it after she failed to pick up his calls.

The pair, from the city of Dezhou in China, allegedly got into a fight after the woman did not answer her estranged husband’s calls after a late work shift on 6 September.

Enraged, her husband apparently stormed into her work the following day and attacked her: biting off her nose and then swallowing it, according to the People’s Daily Online.

The woman, partially identified as Ms Yang, told Shangdong Television station: “And the next thing I knew, he pushed my head towards the way and ate my nose in one go.”

Doctors have claimed the damage to Ms Yang’s nose is so severe she will require extensive surgery. Almost her entire nose, including the nasal septum, soft triangle and nose tip, were eaten.

Surgeons believe it will be at least three months before her nose can be cosmetically reconstructed.

The couple, who were both divorcees when they married, appear to have a tumultuous relationship.

According to local news reports Ms Yang claims her husband – who had two grown children from his previous marriage - attempted to sell the couple’s child so she could care for his grandchildren. When Ms Yang refused the couple separated, although she claims he continued to ring her regularly.