SATURDAY night revellers may hold vital information about an incident in Accrington town centre which left two men needing stitches for slash wounds to their heads.

The incident began outside Imran's takeaway and restaurant in Blackburn Road at around 2.20am on Sunday, when Kevin Graves, 29, from Oswaldtwistle, had his face slashed with a bottle. He needed stitches in the wound.

Shortly afterwards, Michael Clitheroe, 32, also from Oswaldtwistle, was allegedly surrounded by three men and slashed with a sharp blade close to Afrikas nightclub, also in Blackburn Road.

Mr Clitheroe received more than 20 stitches for a 10 inch wound running down the side of his face and under his cheek.

Both men were treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and later discharged.

The two men had been to Afrikas nightclub and were leaving the restaurant when the incident began.

A spokesman for Accrington CID said: "It was a busy time of night and there would have been people walking in the area as well as eating in the restaurant or waiting for food. They may have seen parts of the incident without realising the significance or seriousness of what was happening." Parts of the incident were captured on the town's closed circuit television system and police have traced potential witnesses who were filmed getting into a taxi as the incident happened.

People who saw anything should call Accrington CID on 01254 382141.

Three men from Oswaldtwistle have appeared before Hyndburn magistrates in connection with the incident.

Lorry driver William Alexander Fullerton, 37, of Hornby Close, was remanded in custody charged with two counts of wounding with intent and one of violent disorder. Magistrates refused his bail application.

Dominic Gerald O'Sullivan, 41, of Mallard Place, is charged with two counts of wounding and one of violent disorder. O'Sullivan, who is unemployed, was remanded in custody overnight.

His brother William O'Sullivan, 46, of Heron Way, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder. A father-of-four, he was granted bail to an address outside East Lancashire.

None of the defendants entered a plea and the case was adjourned towards committal proceedings on December 20.

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