A customer was temporarily blinded after a furious chef threw burning hot chilli powder in his face when he complained about his meal.

David Evans, 46, was out for dinner with his wife Michelle at the Prince of Bengal in Tonypandy, Rhondda, South Wales, when they were asked by a waiter if they were enjoying their curry.

But the couple told the waiter their meal was 'tough and rubbery' - and he passed the complaint onto the head chef.

College tutor Michelle, 47, claims the chef stormed out of the kitchen shouting and swearing at them, before throwing chilli powder in Mr Evans' eye.

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David Evans was rushed to hospital after chilli powder was thrown in his face by a furious chef following a meal in South Wales

The pipe fitter was rushed to hospital for treatment, when drips were used to flush liquid through his eyes

CCTV stills taken from the restaurant appear to show the chilli powder being launched at Mr Evans

Pipe fitter David - the father of West End singing star Sophie Evans - was sick with the pain as it burned into his eyes.

He was rushed to hospital and had drips flushing liquid wash through his eyes.

Mrs Evans said: 'What was meant to be a quick meal out with David turned out to be one of the most frightening times we've had.'

She added: 'The Indian chef came to our table, he was extremely rude and aggressive and accused us of not wanting to pay for our food.

'We said we would eat the rest of our food but the meat was really not edible.

'He started swearing at me so David said 'there's no need to swear at my wife', the chef caused quite a scene and was shouting and swearing so David walked back to the kitchen door with him asking for an apology.

'The chef came to the door with a large bowl of chilli powder which he threw at David's face.

'He instantly thought he had been blinded and didn't know what he'd thrown at him, he was shaking in shock, hanging on to the counter being sick thinking he was going to go blind.

'It was horrific. He said he's never had so much pain in his life and was extremely distressed. Not one member of staff came to him to help or even ask if he was ok.

'We were in the toilet splashing water on his eyes until the police and ambulance came and he was treated straight away in A&E. '

Mr Evans and the chef can be seen at the door of the kitchen restaurant before the incident

Michelle Evans said: 'The chef came to the door with a large bowl of chilli powder which he threw at David's face'

Mr Evans was taken from the Prince of Bengal to hospital for treatment.

Mrs Evans, of Tonypandy, said: 'David had numerous eye washes through a drip into his eyes in A&E as his eyes were extremely red and sore.

'The ph level was way off what it should have been and the doctor said if he wasn't treated it would be very dangerous for him. The chilli had even burnt the skin on David's hands and chest.

'He has to be on medication for his eyes until the doctor can see an improvement. We can't believe this has happened and have since read some bad reviews about this man.

'We want everyone to be aware of what has happened and are taking it further with the police.'

David with his West End star daughter Sophie Evans who was runner-up in the 2010 series Over the Rainbow

Mother-of-two Michelle said David is having specialist check ups and is taking steroid eye drops to suppress his body's severe reaction to the chilli

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said officers are investigating the incident, adding a man was arrested on suspicion of common assault and has been bailed

The couple are parents of West End singer Sophie Evans, 23, who was runner-up in the 2010 series Over the Rainbow which sought to find a new star for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Wizard of Oz - and she went on to play Dorothy.

Mother-of-two Michelle said David is having specialist check ups and is taking steroid eye drops to suppress his body's severe reaction to the chilli.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said officers are investigating an incident which took place at the Prince of Bengal restaurant, Tonypandy, on the evening of Saturday, January 21st.

The spokeswoman said: 'A man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault and has been bailed until January 31st, pending further inquiries.'

Chef Kamrul Islam, 46, said he threw chilli into the face of Mr Evans because he feared he was about to be punched.

The father-of-one said: 'I ran into the kitchen to get away from him but he followed me. He was being very aggressive and pushed past another member of staff.

'I was frightened and grabbed a handfull of chilli just in case I needed to defend myself. Chilli will burn but it is not life threatening.

'I've been running this restaurant for 18 years and I've never had to do anything like this. I'm very upset by it all.'

Bangladeshi-born Kamrul - known as Kam to all his regular customers - said one of his staff had told him the customer had complained about the food.

He said: 'They were shouting and swearing at me - I admit I swore back. But I said I would reduce the bill which came to £82.

'But then the woman grabbed my arm and was hanging onto me as she was shouting.

'I shouted back and I just wanted to get away. I went back into the kitchen where the husband followed me and began shouting and pointing at me.

'I've never had trouble like this. All the people around here are very nice and I get on with people. I feel I am respected here and have a lot of good customers and friends.

'It was all seen on our CCTV and I'm happy for the police to see it. I was defending myself.'