A MAN suffered a gash to his head during a violent incident at a Darwen bar praised for its safety and security.

But today Reg Gorton, owner of Bar Java, in Wellington Road, said he was happy with the way the situation had been handled, despite one of the men involved insisting more should have been done by staff.

Richard Holstead, 32, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary for treatment to his forehead after the disturbance at the venue at around midnight on Friday.

He said he believed the police should have been called to the bar and that staff should have apprehended the other man involved.

But Mr Gorton, who also owns The Roxy nightclub in the town, said he split up the two men personally and said the incident was "over in a matter of minutes" and he did not feel it necessary to contact the police.

He said: "We don't know exactly what happened but two lads clashed upstairs and one had a cut on his head and the other had a lump on his head.

"I was standing nearby so I split them up.

"The venue was very busy and security were called from the main door.

"I told one of the lads to go to the toilets to clean himself up and the other lad was escorted out.

"As far as I was concerned that was the end of the incident and the lads shook hands.

"We have given our CCTV to the police to help them with their inquiries."

The trouble was reported to the police outside of the club and Mr Holstead was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Insp Andrea Bradbury, of Darwen Police, said: "Mr Holstead spoke to the police outside Bar Java and said he had been headbutted inside the club.

"He suffered a two-inch cut on his forehead. We are investigating the incident and have seized CCTV footage.

"If anyone witnessed the incident or has any further information as to what happpened we would like to hear from them."

Anyone with details should contact the police on 01254 51212 and quote log number EB206/06.

Mr Holstead, a printer, from Halliwell, Bolton, said said he had been standing having a drink with friends upstairs in the bar when the incident happened.

Both the Roxy and Bar Java were nominated by the police for an industry award for their safety policies towards customers and staff in 2005 and 2004.