Owner of nightmare club 'full of druggies' says rivals are 'victimising' venue

A working men's club in Lancashire has had its licence suspended after accusations of 'lock-ins', drug use and anti-social behaviour. But the owner of Haslingden Trades Club says he believes they are being' victimised.'

Locals say they have grown 'sick and tired' of noise and disruption caused by the venue on Regent Street in the east Lancs town. And it has now been told to make improvements if its licence is to be reinstated in 30 days time following a council hearing.

Police requested a review of its licence with one senior officer saying that 'management seem to have little or no understanding about responsibilities.'

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Susan, who lives just a stone's throw from Regent Street, said talk of 'trouble at the club' among her neighbours is a regular occurrence.

"I don't go in there; I wouldn't want to," she told Lancs Live "I hear the noise all the time and it's always after midnight. There's a gang of them that stay drinking late; they look like druggies.

"I've heard them having lock-ins and sometimes I've heard them screaming and shouting at 1am. If I'm in the front room it's not too bad. All the neighbours say 'keep your doors locked' because they've seen some of them trying to break into cars."

One complainant told police the premises were attracting a lot of 'smack-heads' and that people were leaving street litter and 'trying' car doors. Complaints have also been made by Lindens Care Home across the road.

A member of staff at the Lindens said: ".It does get loud. Our residents struggle to get to sleep as it is because they're elderly and we've had one or two of them saying they've been kept awake. It's not every night but when it