Doherty in brawl

Pete Doherty

Troubled rock star Pete Doherty has denied starting a fight with a photographer after a concert with his band Babyshambles.

London's Evening Standard newspaper reported that Doherty was involved in a brawl with an Italian photographer outside his hotel in Rome. One witness said Doherty's head was "dripping with blood".

Police were not called and Doherty was treated by fans and band members, while the photographer was said to have gone to hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for Doherty later said the singer had been hit with a camera.

Earlier in the night, Doherty reportedly brandished a microphone stand at fans in the front row of the Babyshambles concert after a missile was thrown at the band.