A PUB boss has slammed police for closing the venue down early during New Year's Eve celebrations.

Officers shut the Jubilee in Blakey Moor, Blackburn, at about 2am on Monday after a fight outside.

But bosses at the pub said they had been hoping to remain open until about 4am or 5am, and the police over-reacted.

They said the fight outside the Thwaites-owned pub was between two girls.

And they said they were consulting with their solicitors over the actions, which they claim cost them money.

Police said the move was taken after a "significant number of assaults and disturbances in and around the public house."

But Linda Fox, wife of licensee Thomas Fox, said: "That was the only trouble we had over Christmas and New Year. The police just came into the pub and said, that's it we're closing you down.' It was disgusting.

"I am very unhappy with the way the police treated us, they lost us a lot of money. The pub was very very busy and it was a good atmosphere. Then a scuffle started.

"The doormen did their job and got it out of the pub, and two girls started fighting. Then the police came and shut us down, we could have been open until four or five o'clock.

"I could understand it if there had been six or seven fights that night. But this was taken outside. When it's outside we can't do anything about it, I don't think it's our responsibility."

A spokesman for Lancashire police said there had been several incidents in the past.

He said: "Due to intelligence from previous months and using officers' experience the decision was made to prevent further disturbances.

"If the pub is complaining we will take that seriously and look into it."

A spokesperson for the Jubilee pub said: "The incident is an example of how a minority can spoil the enjoyment for the majority of peaceful pub goers.

"The tenant has CCTV footage, which will be made available for the police to assist them in identifying the individuals concerned."