AN unlicensed karaoke bar was shut down by police and fighting broke out in Bolton town centre – but Bolton largely behaved itself on Mad Friday.

Thousands of revellers were out in the town centre on Friday night – many after leaving work as early as 1pm - but only five people were arrested by the end of the night.

The fire above En-Vogue nightclub – which closed much of Bradshawgate for several hours – was cited as one reason for disorder being minimal.

Insp Nicola Tompsett, from the Bolton Central neighbourhood policing team, said: "The fire has changed the whole tone of the night.

"A lot of people have seen this and either stopped drinking or gone home.

"We are pleased with how everything has gone and how we dealt with the fire.

"I think it has been a happy crowd tonight. People have been celebrating Christmas and that has come across."

Police licensing officers and Bolton Council partners moved in to shut The Karaoke Bar, which has only recently opened, at about 9.30pm.

The venue had been operating without the correct licence to serve alcohol and police did not want to leave the premises operating unlicensed on Mad Friday.

The shutters were pulled down after revellers were ordered out.

The Karaoke Bar must now apply for its licence, but the process takes at least 28 days, ensuring that the bar will be closed for the entire festive period.

Sgt Paul Ellis, from the licensing team, said: "They have not got the right licence.

"He has shown us emails so they know they should have but they have not sorted it out.

"They have to close or serve soft drinks which they are not going to do."

At about 9pm a woman was dragged away from a bus stop by police.

Then at about 10pm, a fight broke out outside Downtown Bolton, in which at least one man was arrested.

During the ensuing struggle, some of the men involved attempted to attack bouncers.

Insp Tompsett used a dispersal order after the Downtown Bolton trouble, which gives police the power to clear crowds away from the town centre.

A crowd of people had gathered and the atmosphere had become aggressive after the fighting.

A few minutes later, a man was dragged away into a police van by officers outside The Swan pub.

He was also arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.

Licensing officers had also visited The Bar in Nelson Square early in the evening and found cocaine on the lids of the ladies' toilets.

They asked the management to step up checks of the toilets.

The police's Mad Friday operation finally wound down at about 6am on Saturday.