A NIGHTCLUB raided by police is to be closed for at least three months.

Monroes, Wood Street, Great Harwood, was served with a closure order by Lancashire Constabulary after a swoop involving 200 police officers on Saturday night.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, magistrates yesterday granted an interim order closing the club for three months. An extension could be sought in future

Monroes' owner, Anthony Ian Jackson, 59, of Padiham Road, Sabden, appeared at the court to hear the closure order hearing, which he did not oppose.

Lancashire Police solicitor Naimh Noone, told Hyndburn magistrates: "This is the first time this application has been used in Lancashire and the first for a commercial premises in the UK. It was brought in to protect the community and tranquillity."

She said the magistrates could only make the order if they were satisfied the premises was used for, or connected with, Class-A drugs; if it was associated with disorder or serious nuisance; and if granting of the order was used to prevent disorder or serious nuisance.

Solicitor Philip Smithies, representing Mr Jackson, said his client had been interviewed at great length and had co-operated with police questioning, and was not aware of the scale of the drug problem.

In a separate hearing yesterday, Mr Jackson was remanded in custody on two separate criminal charges.

He is charged with operating the venue without an entertainment licence and permitting it to be used for the supply of drugs. He was remanded in custody until Friday.