'Race attack' closes club

Five men were arrested after youths armed with chair legs, iron bars and baseball bats surrounded Darwen Central Club.

The club, formerly the Central Conservative Club, was closed on police advice after the incident, which followed an assault on a 40-year-old local man.

Police said the Asian men were detained on suspicion of racially motivated assault and violent disorder and were due to be questioned today.

The injured man, who is white and lives locally, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary after claiming he had been beaten up outside the Church Street club by a group of Asian males at 5.15pm yesterday.

After being treated for his injuries, which were mainly cuts and bruises, he was released to recover at home.

Inspector Graham Ashcroft said: "Officers came across a group of Asian males all in their teens and early 20s in the Church Street area of the town carrying offensive weapons, including chair legs, iron bars and baseball bats.

"We had received reports before arriving on the scene that a Darwen man had been taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary claiming to have been attacked by a group of Asian males outside the club.

"They were arrested at the site on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

"After reports that a number of Asian males were outside the club shouting violent threats to those inside we recommended that the club's management close down for the evening in the interest of their own safety."

Last night police patrolled the area surrounding Church Street and said the club would remain closed until further notice.

The Central Club, which changed its name from the Conservative Club ten years ago, was shut down in October 2004 because of what police described as "anti-social activities" on the premises.

It re-opened its doors after three weeks under a new licensee and as a new member of the popular 'Bar-U' scheme, which links town centre pubs and clubs in a bid to curb violence.

A Conservative club has stood on the Church Street site since the first World War.