The future of the Leigh Coliseum was shrouded in mystery yesterday after a teen disco was closed down - followed by rumours that refugees could be housed there

Intrigue youth disco will no longer operate from the Leigh venue after a licensing committee ruled it would lead to a significant increase in crime and disorder.

Following the hearing co-owner Paul Masters expressed his disappointment at the refusal of an entertainment licence.

He said: "I am upset for the 95 per cent of the kids who were well-behaved and who won't be able to go to Intrigue again."

Mr Masters spoke of what the co-owners, Jeff and Graham King, could do with to the Coliseum now the disco has closed.

He said: "They may look favourably at placing homeless and refugees in there.

"Why let it stay empty when it could house the homeless?"

Jeff King denied the idea of a refugee haven had come from him. He said: "We have got big plans for the Coliseum which I can't talk about but we will not be doing anything before Christmas."

Residents in the surrounding area of Elm Road have complained of children causing a nuisance and the sheer numbers of them converging on the town.

Last Friday Elm Road had to be closed and 30 officers called to deal with a number of skirmishes outside the club, jeopardising the safety of youngsters.

Although the refusal of the licence was not a criticism of the Intrigue management, the committee felt a licence could not be granted.

It heard evidence from police there had been a marked increase in youth-related crime in the area since the club had opened.

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