THREE men have appeared in court following a violent disturbance during a christening party at the Park Gates Hotel, Copster Green, two weeks ago.

But a solicitor defending them successfully applied for reporting restrictions on the case to be lifted so he could appeal for witnesses.

Blackburn magistrates were told the three men deny the allegations, which follow an incident which ended with four people being taken to hospital, two of them with stab wounds.

David Michael Wilson, 34, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, Wasi Ahmed Khan, 48, of London Road, Blackburn, and Andrew Loughnane, 28, of Swindley Road, Wigan, are all charged with violent disorder.

Wilson is also charged with wounding Roy Howarth with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assaulting Mark Whitney causing actual bodily harm.

Khan is also charged with wounding Mat Stevens with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assaulting Claire Simmons with intent to cause actual bodily harm. All three were sent to Preston Crown Court for trial. Solicitor Paul Schofield said his application was to allow a defence appeal for witnesses which would be in the interests of justice.

In a prepared statement read to the court, Mr Schofield said the charges arose from an incident at the Park Gates Hotel on the evening of February 21.

"I am aware that the police have taken statements from a number of witnesses. This appeal is directed at any other people who were present at the scene during the evening of February 21 who have not made written statements to the police. Please contact my office, Farleys Solicitors, 1-2 Richmond Terrace, Blackburn. Telephone: 01254 606060."

All three defendants were remanded on bail until they appear at Crown Court. Bail was granted on condition they do not go within half a mile of the Park Gates Hotel and do not interfere with prosecution witnesses. They had surrendered their passports as a condition of police bail.

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