A YOUTH disco held weekly at Jax Nightspot in Winsford has been abandoned after youngsters vandalised the premises.

Manager Steve Clough shut down the music at 10pm and asked all the children to leave the pub half-an-hour early last Wednesday night.

More than £100 worth of damage had been caused by the teenagers who ripped off a ladies toilet door, smashed a window, broke a bannister rail and damaged a window latch.

Almost 350 people between the ages of 12 and 17 packed the pub in New Road, Winsford, for the event which had only been running for two weeks.

The number of children it attracted from across Cheshire astounded organisers, who were disappointed the disco had to be stopped.

Ann Smith, of Kingsley Walk, who helped to launch the disco, said: "There were one or two incidents that forced us to stop the disco. The manager was obviously quite angry about it.

"A bannister came off a wall and a window was broken at one point.

"I would say 99.9 per cent of the children had just come to enjoy the disco but there was a small group of youngsters who set out to be disruptive.

"It was a real shame that this minority had to spoil it for the rest because the turnout was absolutely fantastic.

"I would just like to thank everybody who was involved in the organisation of the disco - the manager for allowing us to use Jax free of charge and the bouncers for the time they gave up to supervise.

"The young people were really enjoying themselves and there was a fabulous atmosphere until the trouble started.

"All the profit from the disco is going to the Winsford mayor's charity - the Youth Forum. So it was being put back into the community for the youngsters. It was just a handful that spoilt it for themselves and others.

"But I am determined to try to continue the disco - whether it be at Jax or somewhere else.

"Next time we will run the disco by ticket only. We've got a good idea who the troublemakers were and they will not be allowed back in again."

Mr Clough said: "They ripped a ladies toilet door off the wall, smashed a window in the pool room and broke the latch off a window. Some kids were actually trying to climb through the window to get in.

"It's going to cost at least £100 to get everything repaired.

"They spoilt it for themselves but it's the youngsters who weren't causing any trouble that I feel sorry for."

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