Terrified regulars described how they were trapped in the upstairs room of the Second West pub, fearing for their lives, while youths torched and looted the bar downstairs.

Drinkers at the pub in Cemetery Road dashed upstairs when the premises came under attack from a crowd of Asian youths.

Eyewitness Mark Harrison said: "I'd been in the pub since about 4pm and the first we knew of any trouble was when a group of people got off a bus just after 6pm and started fighting in the street. There must have about 50 people - both Asian and white.

"We could hear the noise they were making and see what was happening from the pub windows."

Mr Harrison said the pub doors were locked and the 25 to 30 customers made their way upstairs in the hope that they would be safe from the hail of missiles being thrown at the building, which was set on fire during the height of the disturbance.

"Everything was being thrown through the window - bricks, massive pieces of concrete, traffic cones and bottles. A traffic cone hit me on the arm and someone I know was hit in the face by a bottle. His face was really badly cut - there was a hole in his cheek almost the size of the bottle.

"Everyone was frightened. It was horrendous."

Another eyewitness, Alex Klein, was in the pub with his wife after the pair had finished working at the Coach House. He said: "I looked out of the window and saw a large group of Asians coming towards the pub, and the next thing bricks and road signs were coming through the windows.

"After about 15 minutes of this we decided to get everybody upstairs. The landlord's grandchildren were crying, women were crying and panicking. Smoke came up the staircase and to be honest we feared for our lives.

"After what seemed hours the riot police and fire brigade arrived and took hold of the situation.

"When we finally came down the pub was a total mess, fire damaged and broken glass, and the smell of smoke. They had taken the till, and raided the fruit machine."

Opinion