Travelling Burnley fans attack local pub

Last updated : 04 January 2014 By Paul Farrington

Police are presently investigating the incident after a group of upwarsd of 30 rival football fans tried to force their way into the pub after security staff had locked the doors from the inside.

Regulars at the establishment were forced to take cover behind the bar as the group of Burnley suppoerters attempted to gain entry by kicking down the doors and smashing the windows.

Before police could attend the incident the rival supporters managed to punch their way through a window of historical significance.

The pub has recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary since re-opening folloing the purchase and renovation by Morecambe based owners Contact One.

Operations Manager Denise Bennett told the Wigan Evening Post: "The Bird is a popilar pub pre-match although we are oof the beaten track so don't usually get caught up in this type of thing.

"We had the usual mix: families, young children, mums and dads, enjoying themselves. But because it was a local derby match we were advised to pay for a doorman to control who came in.

"All of a sudden we saw this huge crowd of lads walking down the pavement and in the middle of the road heading towards us and ran in quikcly ans locked the doors from the inside.

"They surrounded the pub shotung and yelling and trying to kick the doors down, literally, with their boots, so we called the police and they sad they would send officers down as soon as possible.

"One of them then ut his first straight through the vault window, shattering glass everywhere inside the pub. Many of them had theur hoodies up and it was a really frightening experience.

"They were just complete vandals looking for trouble. It was a horrible thing to see and be caught up in. It's an all-girl team at our pub but they handled the situation really calmly and we are very proid of them and the doorman."

The window that was smashed in the attack had stood for over 100 years and Denise added: "The window that was smashed in is one of the originals in the pb which has been there for more than 100 years and has survived two world wards and never even had a crack in it before these idiots arrived, which is such a shame."

Police are studying CCTV images from the pub with a view to finding those responsible for this mindless attack.