DRINKERS were evacuated from a town centre pub when part of the bar ceiling came crashing down just feet away from them.

Customers at the Postal Order, Darwen Street, Blackburn, were left standing out in the street after the incident, just after 1.30pm yesterday.

Paul Chinery, of Scotland Bank Terrace, had called into the pub for a quick drink after a shopping trip. Paul, 35, said: "I had just sat down for a drink when all of a sudden the ceiling came down. It was right behind me.

"I thought it was definitely going to hit me. I'm still in a bit of shock, I think I had a lucky escape."

Stuart Kirshaw, 40, of Green Lane, had just ordered a bar meal when he turned round to see parts of the ceiling fall on to the floor of the bar. He said: "There were sections of the pub that were already cordoned off. Luckily no-one was hurt."

A spokesman for owners J D Wetherspoon said: "The manager spotted in the morning that water had collected in the ceiling overnight and cordoned off the area. A contractor worked on it before opening time, but later the ceiling came in.

"It looked worse than it was -- what came down was mostly plasterboard, but some of the ventilation ducting came down too. It wasn't a large area. The manager immediately closed the pub."

He added that Wetherspoon contractors worked through the night to repair the damage and the premises was expected to re-open at 11am today .

"The safety of our customers always comes first, and the manager acted responsibly throughout," he added.

Blackburn with Darwen Council officials called at the premises yesterday after hearing reports of the collapse. Adam Scott, director of regeneration, housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The management took the right action in closing the premises until they could be made safe."