A 52-year-old Russian man has been detained after using an axe to sever his friend's penis, say police.

The two villagers had been arguing about the size of their manhoods during a drinking session in the Urals region on Bashkortostan.

After embarking on a penis-measuring competition, the 'loser' was so enraged that he attacked his 47-year-old friend with the axe.

Sore loser: The two men embarked on a penis-measuring competition after a drinking session in the village where they live in the Urals region

The elder man grabbed the axe and his his friend over the head with it, before chopping off the man's penis, it was alleged.

A police spokesman said: 'Over two days the men were binge drinking, which led to a violent argument.

'When words were exhausted, the attacker pulled out an axe and first struck the opponent on the head, then cut off his manhood.'

Neighbour called the emergency services after hearing the man's pained screams.

Short straw: The 'loser' was so enraged that he attacked the 'winner' with an axe, cutting off his penis

Reports said it was the man judged to have the smaller genitals who wielded the axe.

The men have known each other since childhood and live in the village of Nikolsk. They were not named.

The older man has been charged with inflicting a 'grave injury' on his friend.