A JUDGE has expressed his concern about the amount of late-night violence outside Lancaster and Morecambe's pubs and clubs. When sentencing three men at Preston Crown Court for public order offences, Judge John Appleton said the courts were regularly dealing with such matters. He said: "If there weren't the pubs and clubs in Morecambe and Lancaster that there are, these courts would be limited to sitting once a month. The amount of violence that occurs when people come out of the clubs is quite astounding."

Appearing before Judge Appleton were Kevin Hughes, David Lewis and William Wilson who admitted their role in a street attack on a man in Morecambe.

Wilson, 27, of Clarendon Road, Morecambe, Lewis, 27, of Skeffington Road, and Hughes, 30, of Acregate Lane, both from Preston, all pleaded guilty to affray.

Lewis and Hughes were given 100 hours' community service while Wilson was placed on probation for two years.

Prosecutor Christopher Cornwell told the court that the trio attacked Michael Swindlehurst after he left a club in Morecambe. He was punched to the ground and the attack continued as he lay on the floor. Mr Swindlehurst suffered minor injuries to his face and head.

Threats were also shouted by the defendants to a nearby resident who tried to lend assistance to the victim after hearing a commotion outside his house.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, defending Wilson, said the offence had occurred over two years ago and the court case had been hanging over his client.

John Duncan, defending Lewis and Hughes, said the pair had been staying in Morecambe that night while visiting a friend.

They had kept out of trouble since the incident.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.