AN international Thai boxing event has been barred from a North-East venue following a riot at the weekend.

About 40 Queensbury-rule boxing fans hurled tables, chairs and glasses at each other during a title fight at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington on Friday.

As a result, council bosses who run the centre have ordered that the Thai boxing contest, due to take place on Sunday, April 25, cannot be staged, which has angered organisers.

Darlington Borough Council cancelled the Sky Sports-televised event, which was to involve 16 local fighters taking on opponents from France, Holland and Belgium.

It has now been switched to Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, but organiser Paul Hamilton is livid at the council's decision.

He said he stands to lose £8,000 on the event, which includes two world title fights and had sponsorship from 25 Darlington businesses.

"I've been told I'm not allowed to do any more shows in Darlington because of somebody else's problems," said Mr Hamilton. "I have had 25 shows in town and there has never been a single problem.

"The council is lumping the two sports together when one has had absolutely no problems. If there is trouble at a football match in Darlington, will they cancel all rugby games?"

A council spokesman said: "It's unfortunate that we did have to cancel further shows, but we are aware that Thai boxing attracts the same spectators. If there is going to be a question about public order then we are not prepared to take that risk."

An inquiry is under way into last Friday's brawl, which broke out during the bout between Darlington's Francis Jones and Gateshead's Danny Moir.

A 70-year-old man had his ear slashed and a teenager suffered a two-inch cut to his head