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This is the horrific moment a yob PUNCHED a young woman in the face - only minutes into the New Year.

The shocking attack happened just after midnight as clubbers spilled out of nightclubs in Newcastle's Bigg Market in the city centre.

Witnesses said the woman, in her 20s, was set upon after she shoved the man over in the street.

An onlooker said: "There was a noisy row going on between two men and two women as people flocked out of pubs and nightclubs just after midnight.

"This girl pushed the bloke and he immediately hit the deck. Seconds later, he sprang to his feet and punched her as hard as he could in the face."

(Image: North News)

"She burst into tears and walked away, clutching her bloodied nose."

The man clambered into a taxi and left following the incident while the girl received treatment at a nearby St John Ambulance stand.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said the incident, reported at 12.11am, was being investigated.

Do you know the yob or the victim? Contact the Daily Mirror at web@mirror.co.uk or call 0207 293 3759

(Image: North News)

The violence was one of a number incidents on a night of carnage as Britain welcomed in 2015.

Elsewhere, six New Year's Eve revellers were stabbed after violence broke out in a nightclub at the famous Belfry hotel, which has hosted the Ryder Cup.

Police were called to the party in Sutton Coldfield, West Mids, less than an hour into 2015 and discovered a 21-year-old had been stabbed in the chest.

They then arrested a man on suspicion of GBH.

But while they were at the scene, another five men were stabbed and had to be rushed to hospital.

In London's East End, a murder inquiry was launched after a 43-year-old died yesterday.

Police found the victim with a fatal head injury around 1.30am in Whitechapel. A 34-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder.

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A house fire killed two pensioners in Deptford, South East London, as people saw in the New Year.

Neighbours fought frantically to save a man in his 80s and a woman in her 60s but were beaten back by the flames tearing through their home.

And one man died and another is missing after a fierce blaze gutted a flat in Plymouth in the early hours of the morning.

A 23-year-old cyclist was killed after he was hit by suspected joyriders on a seafront road at 4am in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Three men, one aged 33 and two aged 24, were arrested along with a 17-yearold lad on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.