A BOUNCER was left with serious head injuries after he was assaulted by a gang inside a Bridge Street night club.

The 40-year-old doorman needed hospital treatment following the attack at Rain, next to 53 Degrees, which happened when he and three other bouncers tried to eject a group of seven rowdy men at around 1.30am on Friday.

The gang, all from Manchester, had refused to leave and broke into the cleaning cupboard from which one of the men seized a broom that he then used to hit the bouncer with about the head.

The club was evacuated to protect the safety of the customers while the disturbance took place.

Jonathan Boucher, director of 53 Degrees, said: “The seven men were all quite big and refused to leave so the door staff had to restrain them – they were animals and I don’t want them back.

“The door staff did a great job ensuring the safety of the customers but unfortunately one of them was injured.

“The police were called using the town centre radio and they arrived very quickly within a minute or so.”

This was the second time in just over two weeks that a bouncer has been attacked in the bar.

A 37-year-old doorman needed six stitches after he was stabbed in the face with some scissors after he threw out two men he caught smoking on March 25.

Mr Boucher added: “We are trying to turn the place around. We are doing everything we can to make the venue as safe and comfortable as possible and apart from that incident we had a great weekend with 2,500 customers through the doors without any trouble.

“We have just invested in Club Scan and will be id-ing everyone who comes in from Friday and groups of four men or more not from Warrington will not be allowed in.

“Pubwatch is working well and town is becoming much safer – those men will now be barred from every pub in Warrington town centre.”

Three men, a 25-year-old, 26-year-old and a 34-year-old were arrested on suspicion of causing affray and assaulting police officers.

They were bailed until June 11.

A police spokesman said: “A large disturbance involving a number of men occurred inside Rain night club.

“A staff member was assaulted and received serious injuries resulting in hospital treatment.”

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Darren Wright at Warrington CID on 01244 613834 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.