A PARTY in a pub descended into a Wild West-style brawl on the dancefloor with metal chairs being thrown and smashed over people's heads.

Children were present at the gathering at The Victory pub in Chorley Old Road on Saturday evening when it turned sour.

One man suffered a cut to the back to the back of his head in the melee involving mainly Hungarian guests.

Inspector Dave Henthorne, of Bolton South and Central Integrated Neighbourhood Police Team, said: "We're investigating it as a violent disorder and we are reviewing CCTV.

"It was a family celebration in The Victory pub's function room which has turned into a big fight.

"It was a private function that has got completely out of hand. It's lamentable behaviour.

"The landlord acted with bravery to try to regain control of his pub."

It is understood an argument between partygoers on the dancefloor descended into violence when there were about 50 people present.

Youngsters were quickly ushered out of the room as brawlers grappled, threw punches and picked up and launched furniture across the room at one another.

One man was arrested on suspicion of assault and was released without charge.

Insp Henthorne said: "It was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider Halliwell community."

One pubgoer told The Bolton News: "The pub shockingly was still open yesterday, Sunday, but people couldn't go in the back function room as the police had it corded off as a crime scene but people we're looking into the room and could see the massive amount of blood on the floor."

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics were called out at 1.05am on Sunday but could not divulge if they treated anyone because it is a police incident.