BOSSES at one of Blackburn's biggest nightclubs today insisted it was business as usual despite the company which owns the venue going into receivership.

Leicestershire-based Springwood Leisure was placed in the hands of receivers Ernst and Young at the request of the company's directors earlier this month.

The move fuelled rumours around Blackburn that Utopia, owned by the company, would be closing its doors.

The firm bought a string of nightclubs formerly owned by First Leisure - including Utopia in Lord Square, Blackburn - in 2002 and had promised to refurbish the venue into one of its Zanzibar chain of nightspots.

However, renovation work was put on hold as the company grappled with debts of around £18million, with the situation made worse by last summer's hot weather.

In a statement the firm blamed a downturn in trade on the weather because it kept clubbers away.

Receivers have pledged to try and sell the business as a going concern.

And a spokesman for Utopia said: "It is still business as usual, despite what is going on. We haven't closed our doors and are open until 3am every Friday and Saturday night."

The nightclub has a long history in the town and has survived previous threats to its success.

In 2000, there were fears for its future after councillors began giving permission for bars and pubs to open after 11pm.

In 2002, the club's monopoly as Blackburn's only large-scale night venue ended after Jumpin Jak's opened in an old bingo hall in St Peter Street, just a few hundred metres from Utopia.

Utopia has had a string of names, and is still known as The Cav by many people. The club has also been called Peppermint Place.

In a statement issued to the London Stock Exchange, Springwood said: "The company has been placed into administrative receivership at the request of the directors.

"The administrative receivers are continuing to trade the business with a view to achieving a sale of the business and assets as a going concern.

"A further announcement will be made shortly."