DOOR staff in Burnley are to be given metal detectors to search revellers for knives in a crackdown on night time violence.

Two serious incidents with blades and warnings from doormen of an increase in people carrying weapons has led to fears that knife crime could get much worse.

Innovative scheme "Operation Sharp Detector" is believed to be the first of its kind in the country where a whole town looks to tackle the problem.

Door staff at all the pubs and clubs in the town centre have been given handheld metal detectors that will be used to scan customers as they go through the door.

They will also have a secure "sharps" amnesty box at the entrance where confiscated items can be deposited by licensed door staff.

Community leaders and police chiefs hope the initiative will stop lethal weapons getting into licensed premises and prevent tragedy this Christmas.

They say it will send out the message to people carrying weapons that they are not welcome in Burnley while reassuring locals that the town centre, which has around 10,000 people enjoying nights out every weekend, is safe.

Burnley Council, the police and BAND (Burnley Against Night-time Disorder) are behind the idea with £2,000 of funding from Burnley Community Safety Partnership and £400 from BAND to provide 25 detectors.

It was revealed at the annual re-launch of BAND at Lava and Ignite nightclub, Hammerton Street, yesterday.

Burnley Council's executive member for community safety, Coun Denis Otter, said: "Over the past 12 months or so we have had a couple of serious incidents involving the use of knives and there has been anecdotal evidence from licensees and door staff that the carrying of such weapons may be increasing. Operation Sharp Detector is a proactive step to make sure we tackle this issue before it could become a problem.

"It's better to be safe than sorry and this could save someone's life."

Council licensing enforcement officer Mick Armfield said: "By stopping people carrying weapons on a night out it will help protect the public, pub and club staff and others such as taxi drivers."

PS Viki Haworth, the police's town centre neighbourhood co-ordinator, said there had been a reduction in the number of violent incidents in the town centre this year and she was confident the scheme would reduce it further.

BAND chairman Shaun Gorgan said: "These hand-held metal detectors are an excellent initiative to help improve pub goers' safety on a night out in Burnley."

Door staff have already been trained to use the detectors, which will be used at their discretion on selected customers.

The detector picks up metal objects and vibrates to alert door staff who will ask customers' to reveal what has set it off and then check then again.

l In June a 32-year-old man was stabbed in the chest during a brawl at XS Nightclub. In August last year Gary Kenyon was stabbed outside BB Eleven in a fight.