POLICE today praised a Burnley nightclub for its security procedures, despite calls for increased protection from a 30-year-old reveller who became the latest victim of a violent town centre attack.

Gary Whittaker, of Nairne Street, Burnley, suffered a broken jaw in the town's Afterlife nightclub in Red Lion Street. The production worker is the fourth person to be attacked in the club in just three months.

But police today defended the club's owners and praised their security arrangements. And Inspector John Clucas said the number of new bars which had opened with late licences in Burnley was attracting more people from out of the area to drink in the town.

In the first incident in Afterlife on January 11 at 11.50pm, a 21 year-old man had hospital treatment after being struck from behind three or four times on the back of his head with a bottle.

The second attack took place on February 24 at 1.40am where a 26-year-old man was struck on the head with an unknown weapon. On March 11 at 12.30am a 19-year-old youth suffered a fractured jaw when he was punched in the face and had hospital treatment.

Mr Whittaker said he had gone to Afterlife with seven friends. He said: "All I can remember is dancing with my mates on the dance floor and the next minute being smacked on the side of my face. I fell and the bouncers took me outside and then I woke up in hospital."

Gary had surgery to a broken jaw and was fitted with a metal plate. He also suffered a broken cheek and was kept in Burnley General Hospital for two days.

He said: "I am really upset by it all, because I haven't got a clue who would want to do this to me. I was having a good night until all this happened. I go out in Burnley all the time and have never had any problems before.

"There is a real need in that club to have added security, whether it be in the form of more security guards or CCTV cameras monitoring the dance floor, something needs to be done to prevent it happening to anybody else."

Afterlife manager Stuart Mulvaney said: "We have the most up to date security camera system in the country and also employ more security staff than is legally required. The four incidents mentioned did happen here but there are other incidents across the town. We are constantly vigilant and co-operate fully with the police. We review our security arrangements constantly and have a daily debrief."

Det Sgt Steve Mounsey said: "It was apparently an unprovoked attack which we are investigating." Insp Clucas praised the nightclub and commended its co-operation and security system. He said that Burnley was one of the safer places to go on a night out in East Lancashire, adding: "Afterlife doesn't cause us any particular concern because their staff play an active part in assisting us in every way they can.

"A serious assault took place in another area of Burnley last week and as a result we arrested a male and charged him with three serious woundings. We couldn't have done this without the co-operation of the staff in the town.

"Four attacks in one night club does seem a lot but every weekend we are called out to incidents like this, usually when people get drunk. It happens at nightclubs all over the area. The Burnley Against Night-time Disorder scheme is looking into ways of reducing this growing problem in the town to prevent disorder."

Police have no description of Mr Whittaker's attacker and want to hear from any witnesses. Anybody with any information should contact Det Sgt Mounsey on 01282 472240.