Two brothers have been cleared of attacking a pub landlord’s son after he tried to stop trouble in the bar on Christmas Eve.

Shannon, 21, and Nico Adams, 19, were alleged to have wielded a bottle and a glass when Kevin Avery was struck on the head at the Plough and Chequers in Gillingham.

The brothers, both of Lobelia Close, Gillingham, had denied wounding with intent and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding during a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

They were cleared of both charges by a jury after two hours and 18 minutes deliberation.

The court heard during the trial that Mr Avery was in the pub at Danes Hill with his wife Angela on December 24 last year.

There was a disco at the pub and Mr Avery said towards the end of the evening two men in a group started fighting and throwing each other around.

He described it as "horseplay" but the landlord, also called Kevin, asked one of the men to leave. When he refused the DJ grabbed the man and pushed him towards the fire exit.

Mr Avery told the court a group of boys followed and he himself went to the exit, only to be pulled back.

He then described how he was hit with glasses, one to the side of the head and one on the front.

"I can’t remember anything after that," he added. "I was in shock. I had blood in my eyes. I couldn’t see anything. Everything was a blur. Three people attacked me."

The jury heard that Mr Avery’s mother Sharon saw a rounders bat on the floor and hit out with it. Windows in the pub were smashed.

Mr Avery was taken to hospital where nine stitches were inserted in his wounds.