A ROW has broken out between organisers and safety stewards following a weekend dance event which ended in fiasco.

Security staff were criticised as hundreds of revellers were evacuated after a fire scare at Chorley Town Hall.

Organisers and clubbers joined in slamming security officers for taking too long to get party-goers out of the building during Saturday's KMDG dance night after police and fire crews rushed to a suspected fire.

Organisers claim it took the stewards more than 20 minutes to clear the building -- contrary to the council's fire procedure which says buildings must be evacuated within six minutes.

Leo Stones, from Kush music Development Group, who organised the event as part of In the Mix 2000, explained: "The evening was great. There was at least 400 to 500 people there -- many of whom had to queue up outside on the steps to get in.

"The fire alarm went off at around 11.30pm. We were told to turn the music off and get everyone out

"The problem was that it took security guards quite a while to get everyone out.

"I dread to think what would have happened if there was a real fire and not just a false alarm."

Police and fire crews attending were hampered by the sheer volume of people outside the town hall, with traffic officers cordoning off the centre of town.

"Market Street was jam-packed full of people," continued Leo. "They should be thanked because they must have waited outside for over half an hour in the pouring rain."

Carol Iddon, joint licensee at the town hall and responsible for safety, hit back at the allegations, saying: "Our evacuation procedure was adhered to fully.

"The people who attended had quite a lot to drink and security officers did their utmost to get them out."

A spokesperson for the fire brigade confirmed that a fire alarm was set off in the building.