The last chance saloon

SICKENING . . . a man is kicked in the head as he lies on the pavement

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Sickening night of drink and violence

OLDHAM town centre is on its “last chance” after two people paid the price of a controversial £5.99 all you can drink deal.

MP Phil Woolas has called for action to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence after trouble flared at the Tokyo Project in the early hours of Saturday.

A photographer caught the moment a drunken thug kicked a man in the head as he lies on the pavement.

The shocking incident was part of a fight outside the Roscoe Street nightclub whose cheap booze offer has been condemned by Oldham’s top police officer..

A 20-year-old man was taken to hospital with head injuries. Earlier, a bouncer suffered a serious facial injury when he was bitten by thug.

A 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old arrested on suspicion of assault have been released on bail.

The club’s January sale which ran on Fridays hit the national headlines and was attacked by health experts and politicians. It allowed revellers to get their glass refilled as many times as they wanted between 11pm and 3am. Around 200 braved the cold to queue for the club to open on Friday, the last day of the offer. Some boasted of drinking 17 pints or 20 vodkas at the club the week before.

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said Oldham town centre was on its last chance — but that it was not up to him to say if Tokyo should be closed.

He said: “The council doesn’t have the the power to dictate the price. But it does have the power to amend the licence.

“I think this is the last chance for Oldham town centre.”

Chief Supt Caroline Ball, head of Oldham Police, said the police did not agree with the offer — but also blamed the press.

She added: “The irresponsible reporting of the drinks offer at the club this week and the publicity surrounding it meant the venue was considerably busier than usual.

“The increase in capacity inevitably led to some incidents of violence.

“As I have said previously we strongly discourage binge drinking and any offer that may encourage it. However, the onus must be put on those people who go out in Oldham and drink excessively.”

Tokyo manager John Johnson said the bouncer was assaulted by a man, believed to have been high on drugs, who was refused entry while the press incited problems outside.

He added: “I stand by the deal because 99 per cent of Oldham people came, enjoyed themselves, and left peacefully. The people of Oldham deserve to have a genuine offer and they deserve to have a good night out.”