NIGHTCLUBS are being given special "unbreak-able" plastic glasses in a bid to reduce the number of injuries from attacks.

Around 2,000 polycarbonate glasses have been handed out by police, and are designed to look and feel like proper glasses.

The difference is they have been designed to withstand all manner of punishment.

They are so tough they can withstand being run over by a four- tonne truck, and still be used to serve drinks, according to police.

The glasses are being piloted in two East Lancas-hire venues, Liquid Envy in Blackburn; and The Good Night Club, in Nelson.

Licensee Richard Gilbert, of The Good Night Club, said they had already proved successful.

He said: "They've already done their job. We had a man the other night who tried to throw one against the wall and smash it, but it just bounced back and hit him. He was a bit shocked!"

Across pubs in the county last year there were 335 incidents where glasses were used as weapons. In 93 cases someone suffered an injury.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "The glasses are made of a specially-reinforced polycarbonate which, although lighter, has the same feel as regular glasses and keeps the drink cold for longer.

"They come in every style, from regular pint glasses to long-stemmed wine glasses and bottles. The bonus is that all of them are practically unbreakable, meaning they cannot be broken and used as a weapon. Not only will the glasses reduce the number of assaults, they will also reduce injuries caused by people falling on broken glasses.

"Bars will also benefit as they will not have to pay to replace broken glasses."

The glasses are being paid for by a marketing company called BBP from West Yorkshire. It is hoped they will prove successful and other bars and nightclubs will invest in them.

Mr Gilbert added: "We were approached as a nightclub that opens until four or five in the morning and we do sometimes have incidents where glass is involved, so we were really pleased to take part.

"I think they are fantastic and the feedback from the customers has been great - a lot of them don't know they're any different.

"We're now looking at buying them in as a permanent thing."

It is hoped to introduce the scheme at Liquid Envy, in Blackburn, in the near future.

A spokesman for the nightclub said they were "very keen" to get involved.