ALCOHOL has been blamed for a violent fracas outside a Runcorn pub which left 10 officers injured.

A gang of around 150 men and women surrounded a small number of police outside The Cherry Tree, Grangeway, and several of them kicked, punched and butted officers as well as pelting them with bottles and cans.

One police constable suffered a broken foot in the melee and four more, including two volunteer Specials, were taken to hospital with spinal injuries, cuts and bruises.

It is the second time in less than a year that a large-scale public disorder incident has occurred near the town's nightspots.

Last October, several officers were injured after a drunken mob attacked police in Church Street, Runcorn old town.

And just 36 hours after praising six members of the public for catching an armed robber, detectives branded another section of Runcorn's community as "disgraceful".

Det Con Giles Pearce said: "This was an ugly incident of public disorder directed towards a small number of police. It was very frightening for the officers involved.

"Ten were injured - one quite seriously - and two special constables were hurt and they, as everyone knows, give their time voluntarily to help police and put something back into the community in which they live.

"The crowd's behaviour was absolutely disgraceful and a number of those who threw bottles and cans at police showed no regard whatsoever for the injuries they would cause.

"Their mindless actions put both the officers and the public at risk of serious harm."

Det Con Perace said violence erupted after two officers were called to the area to deal with a dispute between a few men.

"Some people leaving the club saw this as an opportunity to attack the police. The whole incident was purely down to drink," he said.

The incident happened at 1.30 am on Sunday. Many revellers had gone on to Chinos after spending the day in The Cherry Tree watching Liverpool's crunch football match against Manchester United.

Officers from surrounding divisions were called to help control the situation and 10 people were arrested. One man has appeared in court on charges of serious violent disorder and assaulting two police officers. Seven were charged with violent disorder. One man was charged with being drunk and disorderly and another for a public order offence.

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