A PLAN to drop £500 in fivers onto the floor of an Accrington nightclub has been abandoned on police advice.
Officers feared the scramble to pick up the cash could have been a safety risk or even caused a breach of the peace.
Now managers of Opium on Willow Street are looking at other ways of giving the money away in a bid to boost trade.
They had expected the "Catch the Cash" promotion to pack the club tonight and for the next five Fridays.
It was planned to use special high-powered fans to blow the money onto the dance floor, giving revellers a chance to grab a stash of fivers.
But Accrington Police and Hyndburn Council approached management at Opium with their concerns earlier this week. And following a meeting, it was agreed to withdraw the promotion.
PC Les Sholicar, licensing officer for Accrington Police, said: "We and the local authority had some concerns about public safety surrounding this event. We raised these with the management of Opium and they were very receptive and supportive.
"The club couldn't guarantee the safety of those people trying to grab the cash and we did envisage a potentially serious situation developing.
"Following our discussion, the club agreed to withdraw the promotion and look at other innovative ways of ensuring its punters can benefit from this offer."
Peter Robinson, team leader of Hyndburn Council's environmental health service, who was also at the meeting, added: "We have no objections to the concept but we must consider safety."
Opium owner Mick Cookson said: "The police raised some concerns and we respect that.
"We are still going to give £500 away, but we have not decided exactly how yet. We have a couple of ideas in the pipeline.
"Catch the Cash would have been a fantastic promotion, but I suppose when everybody had downed a few drinks it could have turned into a big scrum."
The plan was conceived amid reports that Accrington's nightlife is flagging.
Promotions manager Brendan Connolly said when it was announced: "We are expecting mayhem, but the money will probably go back in the tills. Anyone making trouble will have to give the cash back and will be asked to leave."
