A PUB has been forced to close for a month after a near riot involving 30 people which was so violent it shocked experienced police.

Blackburn magistrates imposed the order on the Jubilee, Blakey Moor, Blackburn town centre, after being told the incident was the worst public order incident a number of officers had ever seen in a pub.

The court heard that a group of 30 people fought, throwing glasses and bottles indiscriminately, bringing terror to the others among the 200 Christmas revellers in the pub.

More than 20 police officers had to be called in to tackle the incident, magistrates heard.

After calming the situation, police used their emergency powers to close the pub.

And now that decision has been ratified by magistrates who on Christmas Eve ordered the pub to remain shut for 28 days or until a review of the licence had been carried out by police and town hall licensing staff.

Bosses of the Thwaites Brewery pub told the court that they partly blamed the incident on door staff for letting in too many people.

But the court heard that police had been called to 20 incidents at the Jubilee since November 11.

Police Constable Steve Finley told magistrates that officers had obtained a similar order last January to close the pub, although it was under a different landlord at that time.

He said there had been meetings in October and November with the new licensee, Nicola Kay, to try and resolve the situation.

But he said the troubles at the pub culminated in the violence last Friday.

PC Finley said: "Police who attended the pub where confronted by a violent fracas which the door staff were struggling to cope with.

"The fighting continued even as people were being ejected.

"Six people were arrested at the time but inquiries are continuing to trace others who have been identified from CCTV footage.

"People were visibly shocked and frightened by this incident because of the levels of violence they had just witnessed.

"A number of experienced officers described it as the worst public order incident they had ever seen in a public house."

Inspector Stuart Bruce, who made the decision to close the pub on Friday night and extended the closure for a further 24 hours on Saturday, said he felt it was the only way to prevent further violent disorder.

Inspector Bruce told the court that on Saturday night police responded to a report of a group of men trying to start trouble in another pub and they were identified as people who regularly use the Jubilee.

He said: "They were intent on causing trouble and I formed the opinion there was the likelihood of further disorder and so issued a further closure order."

Alan Hodge, of Thwaites Brewery, told the court that Mrs King, 31, had done her best to co-operate with the police.

"It's true the pub has attracted problems," said Mr Hodge. "The door men that were employed sometimes lost control of it and there have been more people in the premises than there should have been."

He said Mrs King had engaged another door company and the hope was that there would be significant improvements.

Re-imposing the closure order the chairman of the magistrates felt the only way to protect the public was to close the pub.

Failure to comply with a closure order carries up to three months in prison and a fine of up to £20,000.

Mrs King, 31, declined to comment after the case.