FIVE police officers were injured when a mass brawl erupted in a packed bar.

One was headbutted and the others suffered cuts, bruises and scratches during the riot in Martha's Vineyard bar, Hebburn, South Tyneside.

Five men were arrested during the commotion - two for affray, two for being drunk and disorderly and one for obstructing a police officer.

Officers were called to the pub at 12.30am today following reports from several members of the public of a "large disturbance" inside the pub.

Police arrived at the scene where they found revellers shouting and arguing and called for back-up.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "We received reports of a large disturbance inside the premises.

"There was a commotion with arguing and shouting in the background and officers had to request extra forces from the neighbouring area command.

"Five men were arrested but, during the incident, five police officers suffered minor injuries.

"One was headbutted and the others were left with cuts, bruises and scratches. Fortunately their injuries were minor."

Last year bosses at the nightspot vowed to clean their act up after having their licence renewed.

The troubled pub had seen 11 incidents of reported violence and disorder in eight months, nine of which involved reports of fights or assaults and locals complained the pub attracts anti-social behaviour.

But despite this, the council's licensing committee agreed to renew the licence of the pub on Prince Consort Road.

Earlier this year the bar vowed to kick out the lager louts when it joined Hebburn Pub Watch, which aims to cut booze-fuelled disorder by banning troublemakers from all the bars in the town.