SECURITY staff at one of East Lancashire's main nightclubs have been kitted out with high-visibility uniforms in a bid to cut down on alcohol-fuelled brawls between customers.

Bouncers at Liquid and Envy, based in Blackburn and Burnley, have also been identifying trouble hot spots within the clubs where fights often break out so that they can stop any violence before it has the chance to erupt.

But the door supervisors' appearance is the most noticeable change.

Staff are now wearing high visibility jackets when outside the club and a photographic Security Industry Authority armband when inside the premises, as part of a campaign to improve incident manage-ment.

General manager Paul Stray said: "This works in two ways - the obvious presence of the security staff can act as a deterrent to those thinking about causing trouble and anyone who needs help of any kind, even if it is just asking where the toilets are, can quickly identify the staff."

Under the new procedure guidelines, set by parent company Luminar Leisure Ltd, a head doorman has been appointed to assume resp-onsibility for the operation of the evening.

All door staff have been briefed to take a more proactive, rather than reactive, role in identifying and defusing a potential situation before it happens.

This includes recognising the victim in the situation and ensuring they are not thrown out on to the street with their antagonist, where the situation could escalate.

Mr Stray added: "We have looked at plans of the building to work out where the high traffic areas are, where people bottle-neck through doors and into the toilets and other flash point areas where trouble could flare.

"We are ensuring there is more vigilance."