Crime in Leigh has soared since a new teen disco opened its doors, a licensing hearing heard today.

It was crunch day for the owners of Intrigue disco - a nightspot for under 18s in Elm Road - as they applied for a permanent entertainment licence.

Police who are opposing the licence said crime had spiralled in Leigh with only four public order incidents in the three months before Intrigue opened - rising to 56 reported crimes in the past 12 weeks.

Around 25 children have been taken to Leigh police station - 14 arrested for public order offences and 11 drunk youngsters detained while their parents were contacted.

Insp Howard Laverack, from Leigh, stressed he was not against having a club like Intrigue in principle, but said Elm Road was the wrong location.

He said: "The road outside is very narrow and the young people are using it as a footpath when they come out.

"Somebody is going to go under a vehicle outside the premises."

Intrigue co-owner Paul Masters has always insisted children affected by drink or drugs would be refused admission and routine searches are carried out on the door.

His solicitor David Hook told the hearing: "Drugs realistically are a problem with children in every town in the country.

"They can probably buy them near every school in the borough. Kids are safer from drug peddlers at the club than they are in schools."

However, police cited a string of crimes from 25 youths fighting in The Broadway to two 14-year-olds being drunk and abusive to police officers and said the problems were a clear strain on police resources.

Sgt Miller said children as young as 11 were inside the club. He said: "It is a smokey atmosphere.

"People are consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol before they get there and youngsters are witnessing violence. I am not suggesting it encourages drinking but the premises attracts very young children who are drunk."

Police pointed out that Intrigue was closed during the Leigh lights procession and although there were a lot of youngsters in the area, there were no reported crimes.

Insp Laverack said: "Crimes in the winter should be diminishing because of the cold nights but they are significantly increasing."

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