OUR chief reporter is no stranger to East Lancashire's nightlife but some of what he saw in Blackburn on Saturday did surprise him.

Many of the thousands of youngsters out on the town were in a party mood and just enjoying themselves - and that's made clear in his reporting.

However the behaviour of too many of the revellers was ugly and unedifying. Indeed many of the images captured by our photographer have been withheld, including couples having sex on car bonnets, on taste grounds.

No wonder so many people see the town centre as a no-go zone.

Yes there was little real violence witnessed and it is encouraging that police appear to be getting on top of violent crime in the town centre.

But the authorities will have to do much more than this if they are to tempt ordinary people hoping for a civilised night out into town.

It must also be worrying for parents of teenagers, especially girls, who are so obviously vulnerable when drunk.

So where do we go from here?

The Bar U scheme which sees drinkers banned from one pub, barred from all, is a big step in the right direction.

But the ugliness remains.

Community leaders, councils and police need to crystallise a plan which will make the town centre a place for all.

At the moment we are a long way from that point.

It doesn't stand up to say that people are frightened to come into town simply because of perception.

What we saw on Saturday night was all about reality.