AN iconic Motown and Northern Soul ‘all nighter’ venue is being brought back to life more than 40 years after it closed.

Hundreds of clubbers flocked to the Bird Trap, at Walter Street Working Men’s Club, Brierfield, each weekend in the late 1960s.

But the nightclub was forced to close when fire ripped through the building just two years after it opened.

Now a pair of Brierfield-based Motown aficionados are organising the venue’s relaunch – much to the delight of some of its original punters.

Four decades ago, John Green, opened the Bird Trap, bringing in DJs such as ‘Baby’ Bob Stewart from the private radio station Radio Caroline North.

Geoff ‘Waddy’ Waddington and Roger Wallbank, who both live in the town, are organising the relaunch for Saturday.

And they are enlisting the help of local DJ Roman Korol, who danced many a night away at the original Bird Trap.

Back in the late 1960s revellers would often make the short trip from Manchester after enjoying a night at the city’s Twisted Wheel club.

Roman said: “It was an iconic soul club.

"People from all over the country would come for the last couple of hours after the Twisted Wheel.

"All these Mods would turn up on scooters and stay until about 5am.”

Roman has been booked to DJ at the relaunch event alongside his friend, Shay, another Brierfield native.

Hits including The Champion by Willie Mitchell and See Saw by Don Covay will be among those played during the night.

And Roman is confident they will be able to recapture some of the ‘old magic’.

He said: “It’s a lovely room with a great dancefloor and can hold about 200 people. There will be others in the future.”

The Bird Trap will begin at 8pm and run into the early hours of the following morning. Admission costs £2.