TWO East Lancashire bars were closed by police following violence between rival drugs gangs.

The two bars, the George and Dragon and Rood Bar, in Barrowford, were closed under emergency powers and searched for drugs following the incidents on Friday and Saturday.

Five people have been arrested and quizzed by police in connection with conspiracy to cause violent disorder. Two were due to be bailed pending further enquiries and three others will be questioned again. All five are local men. The pub landlords were not among those arrested.

The landlord of the George and Dragon, Paul Jennings, and father and son Malcolm and Charlie Weaving, who run the Rood Bar, were unavailable for comment last night.

Police were called to the George and Dragon at about 11pm on Friday following reports a man had been attacked outside the pub by a man weilding a hammer.

The following night police were again called to the pub after six men again carrying hammers burst into the pub. Several members of the public reported being injured in the melee.

Police said further investigation revealed a history of trouble between two factions involving both the George and Dragon and Rood Bar and both were closed to prevent further violence. A heavy police presence was on the streets of Barrowford last night to stop trouble and reassure the public.

Magistrates at Burnley will today hear from officers about the weekend incidents and could make further orders closing one or both pubs indefinitely.