POLICE arrested 36 revellers in the Lancaster and Morecambe area on New Year's Eve in a bid to ensure a peaceful end to the holiday season.

The arrests, largely for drunkenness and minor assaults, came as police clamped down on incidents early on in the hope of preventing more serious trouble later in the evening.

Det Insp Andy Chambers of Lancaster police said: "Our policy was, if trouble started we would do something about it early on rather than let it become more serious.

"You often find that what starts as a minor scuffle at 10pm in the evening can quite often turn into a full scale fight by 1am."

Police have also appealed for information from witnesses after a 20-year-old Morecambe man was hit with a bottle in a city centre pub on New Year's Eve.

The man was standing in the Walkabout, Dalton Square at around 10.35pm when another man walked up to him and hit him over the head.

The victim suffered two lacerations to his head and severe swelling.

His attacker is described as male, white, 6ft tall in his early 20s with short, dark hair in a 'curtain' style.

DI Chambers added: "We would like anyone who has any information to get in touch with us."

Anyone who can offer any information on the incident is asked to contact Lancaster police on 01524 63333.