BOSSES of a Ribble Valley nightclub have defended their record saying that they cannot be held accountable for the bad behaviour of youngsters in the village.

Residents have signed a petition asking the council to review the licence at the Rendezvous Nightclub in Accrington Road, which they handed over to the Mayor of the Ribble Valley, Councillor Chris Holtom, at Tuesday's meeting of the full borough council. But Steve Crompton, manager of the Accrington Road club, said that the club is now seeking legal advice.

"The accusations in this petition are a total fabrication. We feel that this is an attempt by recently barred customers to incite residents to get the club closed, even though it has been there for at least 50 years.

"We have a good relationship with the police and cannot be held accountable for everything that goes on in Whalley. We have installed closed circuit television cameras which record up and down Accrington Road and Queen Street and the police have access to all of our tapes."

On Tuesday night Stuart Burns, speaking on behalf of local residents, told Ribble Valley Borough Councillors that residents are suffering at the hands of drunken youngsters, many of who do not live in the area. He stressed that this only takes place on the nights when the club is open.

Residents feel that police resources are so limited that they are unable to keep the peace. The petition followed a brawl outside the club last weekend.

Council leader Coun Peter Redpath said that the legal services team would draw up a report about the club which would be discussed at the policy and finance committee on October 3.