A BAR where a man was hit over the head with a bottle in a "vicious and sustained assault" by two drinkers has had its licence to sell alcohol suspended.

The attack happened at Lux Bar, in Front Street, Consett, shortly after midnight on Monday, July 1,  prompting a review of its licence by Durham County Council.

According to a report by Durham Police the man was also hit in the face and further attacked while he was on the floor.

He later needed treatment for "a significant wound to his head and face, as well as extensive injuries to his body".

This added one attacker was already known to staff following his involvement in a previous “serious assault” which left a customer unconscious and had been barred from the premises.

Since the current owners of the bar began trading in December 2018 there have been six reported assaults, including three “very serious” assaults.

Durham Police asked for the bar’s licence to be suspended following the two most recent assaults on May 27 and July 1.

In their statement to the county council’s Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee, police claimed the bar’s management were “failing to properly control the premises” and as a result “putting the public at risk of harm”.

Police had a meeting with representatives of the bar on July 2, following which officers said they had very serious concerns about the management of the bar.

A letter signed by Superintendant Richard Allen said: “The circumstances around the two most recent assaults bring into serious question the management and running of this premises.”

A special licensing committee meeting was held by Durham County Council on Friday.

Cllr Jan Blakey, who chaired the meeting, said: “The panel has thought about how serious a problem this has been for [the business] and the police and everyone else involved.

“As an interim measure, we’ve decided to suspend the licence with the removal of the DPS to give you time to address the problems you’ve got and work with the responsible authorities to do what you need to make sure the place is run right for the safety of the people of Consett.”

A full licence review is due to be heard later this month.