A 29-YEAR-OLD man has undergone emergency surgery after a glass was thrust into his face, leaving him with a gaping wound so deep his teeth were visible.

He was hit in the face with a beer glass in Taskers bar, in Manchester Road, Bolton, in the early hours of Saturday.

The man was enjoying a night out with friends and his 60-year-old father when he was attacked at around 1.20am.

He was hit with the glass several times around the face and head.

The glass eventually shattered, causing a six inch gash to his right cheek.

The victim, who lives in Four Lane Ends, Over Hulton, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and later transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital where he underwent surgery on Saturday afternoon.

He is now said to be in a stable condition.

Detectives have not yet been able to interview the victim but have spoken to a number of witnesses.

Det Insp Sarah Wallwork, from Bolton CID, said: "This was a very nasty attack which has left a man badly wounded. We are taking the matter very seriously."

The assault has led to calls for the introduction of shatter-proof glasses in pubs and clubs.

Many bars already use the unbreakable type of glasses and have banned people from taking bottles outside their premises so they cannot be used as weapons.

But some still use normal glasses which can cause horrific injuries.

Bolton MP Brian Iddon said he had seen for himself the result of a glass attack when he spent several weeks with the police earlier this year.

He said: "A lot of people are seriously injured in such attacks and scarred for life -- I think the time has come for the law to be looked at.

"I hate drinking out of plastic glasses myself, but I would certainly support a change in legislation which would see glasses replaced with plastic ones after normal last orders.

"With bars staying open later and later these days, it is after 11pm when things start to liven up and precautions need to be taken."

Bolton Council leader Barbara Ronson said she would not like to see plastic glasses introduced in every bar and club and it should be up to the discretion of the licensee.

"I know that where people have organised outside events, they are expected to use plastic glasses but I would hate to see them being used in every establishment," she said.

"People should be allowed to enjoy their drink in a civilised way and not all be treated the same way because of a small group of people.

"But it is up to responsible licensees to make a decision where they believe there may be a risk and act accordingly. If that doesn't work, then unfortunately it will have to be looked at again from a legal point of view."

In January this year, a man was almost blinded and needed more than 50 stitches to his face after he was slashed with a broken glass outside a pub in Bromley Cross.

In April, a woman needed surgery after her nose was sliced by a glass bottle which was thrown during a fight between football hooligans in Bolton.

The innocent bystander was treated at a specialist facial unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary following the incident in Nelson Square.

Bolton's new Night Time Manager, Laura Miseo, said: "As far as I am aware, the majority of bars already use shatter-proof glasses.

"I will be looking into the incident. Landlords are not doing anything wrong if they are using normal glasses. It is not against the law but it is advisable to use the shatter-proof ones."

John Jewitt, landlord of Man and Scythe said: "Glassing is very rare in Bolton but it is a problem in cities like Glasgow. Licensees there are pressurising the drinks companies to supply alcopops in plastic bottles so they can't be used to attack someone."

Steven Rogers, manager of Taskers, said: "It's a shock for everyone. We've been open for 15 years and nothing like this has happened before."