POLICE are launching a month-long "zero tolerance" drugs crackdown at an under-18s disco in Accrington, set in a club where a teenager was fatally assaulted last year.

From tonight officers will be targeting the Friday night event at Churchills nightspot, in Cannon Street, Accrington, where they believe a small number of youngsters are dealing, or taking drugs. Other youngsters have been seen drinking before entering the club, they said. The club also has a "zero tolerance" policy towards drugs and drinking.

The purge will last throughout August, and was initiated after officers arrested three teenagers for possession of drugs last month.

One was given a caution, but police say the other two will probably be charged when they get the results of forensic examination of drugs seized.

It is the latest controversy to hit the club, and police say manager Angela Calvert alerted them to the problem.

Last year 18-year-old Gavin Tattersall, of Cambridge Drive, Padiham, was attacked at the club while celebrating a friend's birthday, and died three days later.

In February Ian Britcliffe, 42, of John Street, Clayton-le-Moors, a doorman at the club, was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order after he admitted assaulting the teenager. His 21-year-old son Christopher, of the same address, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

After the incident, trade at the club dropped to such low levels it was forced to close, re-opening on Fridays as an under-18s disco earlier this year.

Town centre officer PC Steve Hilton said: "We have recently had a few arrests for drug-related offences and we are also having a problem with juveniles drinking before they enter the club.

"Our action plan for August includes high-visibility policing, offering advice to local off licences about the consequences of selling alcohols to under-age people, and handing out information leaflets to the youngsters at the club.

"We are taking a zero tolerance approach to anyone caught using drugs or trying to distribute drugs, or drinking. We are working with the full co-operation of the club's management who brought this matter to our attention."

Ms Calvert said she had barred several people thought to be involved in drug taking or dealing, leading to a drop in numbers.

"Since we started we have had numerous incidences of kids with drugs. A lot of information came from parents whose children had told them of things happening at the club.

"We looked into it, got names and descriptions and have put the people out who were causing the problem. There isn't a problem because we have got rid of them all. We get a lot of help from the CCTV cameras in the town. As soon as these kids are seen in the town centre the police notify us and warn us, and we refuse them entry.

"The fact that we have got camera and police support is a big help. When we started the event we were getting the maximum 500 in, and as the weeks have gone on and we have had to bar some the numbers have dropped. Last week we had 160 kids in, but I would rather have 160 good kids than 500 bad ones.

"It's bad enough when we have this with adults, but the policy is we won't tolerate drugs inside the club in any way shape or form. If they get caught we hold them for the police -- it's that simple. It's not something we are prepared to turn a blind eye to. We don't want another incident on our hands, especially where kids are concerned."