SHOCKED revellers at a Lancaster nightclub claim they were treated like "serious criminals" during a massive police operation on Friday night.

A 60-strong team of police officers raided the Warehouse on North Road to search for drugs and evidence of drug dealing.

The police made a number of arrests but people inside the club claim the surprise raid by officers in body armour was "heavy handed" and left a lot of them in a state of shock.

They claim they were forced to stand with their arms on their heads on a dancefloor that was covered with broken glass, searched, forced to speak into a surveillance camera and then made to wait for up to two hours to collect their coats and belongings.

North Road was closed to traffic and the public while the operation took place.

The club's owner Mark Harding, 38, has been charged with allowing drugs to be used and sold on the premises. He was remanded in custody at Preston Prison and will appear in court again on Monday, June 4.

Five doormen were also arrested and charged with allowing the use of drugs within the premises.

They were David Kinloch, 39, of Penny Street, Lancaster, David Fairclough, 33, of Bath Street, Lancaster, Geoff Rogerson, 45, of Ashbourne Road, Lancaster, Allan Gifford, 26, of Bolton-le-Sands and Alistair Pratley, 41, of Albion Street, Lancaster.

Fairclough and Pratley were charged with possessing cannabis, Rogerson was charged with possession of ecstasy and Kinloch was charged with possessing ecstasy and cannabis.

They were bailed to appear before magistrates on Monday.

Four members of the public were also arrested on various drugs offences including supply and possession.

They were Ian McKie, 28, of Ullswater Road, Aaron Wilson, 29, of Hest Bank Lane, Lee Coulton, 19 of Willacy Parade, Heysham and Andrew Machett, 20, Dale Street, Lancaster. McKie, Wilson and Coulton were remanded in custody and bailed to appear in court on June 8. Matchett was bailed until June 11.

A police spokesman said that the operation sent out a strong message that the police will not tolerate criminal behaviour.