HUNDREDS of revellers had to be evacuated from a town centre nightclub after a late-night petrol bomb attack.

The incident came after two people were ejected from the Eclipse nightclub in Accrington early on Saturday,13th.

The bottle of flammable liquid was ignited and thrown at the club in Willow Street -- formerly Lar-De-Dars -- setting the entrance alight at around 1.30am shortly before the hundreds of people inside would have been making their way out.

The doormen quickly put the fire out and the club was evacuated via another exit.

Two men, aged 28 and 24, were due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates today charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

Detective Sergeant Mark Rothwell said: "Fortunately no-one was injured because the door staff acted quickly and extinguished the fire which was in the entrance.

"Had they not acted as promptly as they did this could have resulted in a catastrophic situation."

Ivan Symcox, assistant general manager of Eclipse, praised the quick thinking of the door staff but added his concern for the 200 to 300 clubbers in Eclipse that night.

He said: "It happened very near the time people would have been leaving the club and one of the doormen was standing very near to where the bottle smashed against the door.

"If it had been ten or 15 minutes later the reception area would have been full because we have got a cloakroom there.

"It could have been worse because people could have been trapped in the building.

"The fire damaged the carpet, the doors and the door frames and there was smoke damage in the entrance to the club. We consider it very serious."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack or to anyone who saw two men running up Eagle Street.