TWO men were in hospital with stab wounds today after violence erupted at a Christening party in a pub.

Trouble broke out before last orders were called at the Park Gate Inn, Copster Green last night. A 52-year-old man suffered stab wounds to the back and a second man in his 30s was stabbed in the stomach.

They were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but their injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Police have refused to name the injured men. A third man suffered head injuries after being hit with a pool or snooker cue in the same incident.

Park Gate Inn landlady Aileen Walmsley said: "There had been a christening in the pub all day. It was a great event and there was no trouble at all until an uninvited guest got drunk.

"An argument started and suddenly it was bedlam. There were children screaming and diving for cover while about six people battled it out. Pool cues, glasses and a pub window were smashed. About 30 or 40 people were in the pub at the time. I ushered most of them upstairs out of the way.

"Two people were stabbed, one of them I believe with a knife, another with a broken pool cue. There was blood everywhere, I have never seen anything like it. I've been at this pub for two years and never had any trouble. "Guests were detained until 3am while police carried out inquiries. Those with children were allowed home. I believe one of the men who was stabbed was a relative of the child who was being christened."

Detective Inspector Tony Harling of Blackburn CID said: "We are at a very early stage in the investigation.

"So far all we can say is that three men were injured as a result of a fight at a christening party.

"We are trying to trace the offenders and no arrests have yet been made."

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