POLICE dog handlers were called in to break up a mass brawl in a city centre pub.

The incident happened in part of Durham where local people have complained about drunken disturbances.

Officers swooped on Yates's Wine Lodge, in North Road, at 6pm on Saturday, after the "pitched battle'' was picked up by CCTV cameras.

The fight involved about 36 youths from the Durham area and Murton, in east Durham.

Police believe some brawlers suffered minor injuries and there were rumours of someone being slashed with a knife, or hit with a bottle.

A Durham Police spokes-man said: "They were apparently seen on CCTV, throwing tables and bottles.

"There were two rival factions, one from Durham, one from Murton, and a pitched battle spilled on to the street where they were contained by police dog handlers. The Murton group was escorted out of the city.

"One man was arrested for violent disorder and resisting arrest but no complaints were made of assault between the warring factions, although there was clear evidence of injuries on view.

"During the disturbance, a window in the premises was smashed and one police officer suffered slight injuries to his arm when he was pursuing a suspect.''

The pub closed for almost two hours.

"It re-opened for business and there were no further problems on Saturday night,'' said the police spokesman.

Residents in the area told a recent appeal hearing, concerning the Walkabout theme pub licence for the Robins Cinema, that they suffered late-night disorder, vandalism and anti-social behaviour caused by drunken revellers.

The appeal was granted despite opposition from residents and the police