A VILLAGE pub at the centre of an alleged mass brawl has been closed down.

Durham County Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee today (Tuesday, March 26) revoked the licence for The Flintlock Inn, in West Cornforth, County Durham.

Sergeant Tim Robson, of Durham Police, said these premises had become “problematic” to the community.

Speaking at the meeting in the Civic Centre, in Chester-le-Street he said if the pub was allowed to remain open he had no doubt there would be further incidents of crime and disorder.

Police were called to the pub on February 25 following reports of a disturbance involving a sawn-off shotgun, knives and a baseball bat.

Injuries inflicted included stab and slash wounds, double fractures of the wrist and numerous cuts and bruises.

Sgt Robson said he was concerned over the running of the pub as officers had found different people in charge on a number of visits.

He accepted that designated premises supervisor Nicola Bush had an almost unblemished record of running pubs, but said those who did run it in her absence appeared to have little knowledge of licensing regulations.

“It is my belief that should The Flintlock in remain open there will be further scenes of violence and criminal disorder,” he said.

Sgt Robson told members of the committee his officers had found events at the pub advertised on Facebook even though the license had been suspended for the last month.

He added: “It is clear the wider community is saying we are scarred and we are in fear of further violence.”

Representing Ms Bush and Charlene Watson, who had been running the pub, solicitor Chris Morrison said it was clear the incident on February 25 had taken place, but it was a one-off and the pub and those who ran it were well thought of in the community.

He requested a requirement for door staff to be added to the license instead of more serious action.

“The reality of the situation is that apart from this incident there hasn’t been one single person arrested in relation to this pub,” he said. “This individual (Nicola Bush) has a proven track record and the pub was little more than an unlucky recipient of a fight.”

Chairman of the licensing sub-committee meeting Councillor David Marshall said they had decided to revoke the license but did not give reasons.

• Two people have been charged in connection with the incident on February 25 and will appear at Durham Crown Court in June.