POLICE have arrested a total of 19 people in two swoops outside a Great Harwood nightclub.

Officers have carried out stop-and-search operations on customers queuing at Monroes, Wood Street, over the last two weekends.

Revellers have been targeted as part of Operation Escort, an ongoing crackdown at the Wood Street club, following a series of violent incidents.

In the first swoop on Saturday 25 January 156 people were searched by teams of officers from Great Harwood Police.

Nine people were arres-ted for a variety of offences including possession of drugs, possession with intent to supply, possession of offensive weapons and obstructing police.

Police swooped once again last Saturday, searching a total of 221 people and vehicles.

A total of 10 people were arrested for a variety of offences including possession of an offensive weapon and possession of drugs.

Police seized a screwdriver, an asp, which is a baton-like weapon, amph-etamines, Ecstasy and Tamazipan.