A Bradford nightclub with a history of violent crime has been ordered to close "before someone dies."

Licensing chiefs decided not to grant a new license to the Funktion Club, in Hallfield Road, Manningham, meaning it will not be allowed to trade when its existing license expires on November 24.

The Bradford Licensing Panel took the decision after West Yorkshire Police highlighted instances of violence - including a stabbing and a shooting - that have taken place in and around the premises.

Councillor Matt Palmer, a member of the licensing panel, said: "If we had not refused this application, then it was highly likely that someone would have died.

"It was refused on the basis of several stabbings and shootings over the last couple of years. Their license will expire on November 24 and, although they have the right of appeal, they have got very little case."

Police urged the panel not to grant the license because matters had not improved to any significant degree, despite consultations between them and licensee Paul Joseph.

West Yorkshire Police licensing officer John Tyson said that for some time the police had had concerns about crime and disorder inside or near to the club.

He said matters came to a head in February when there was a shooting outside the club, which was one of a series of incidents.

The club was served with a closure order but was allowed to reopen under reduced hours.

In July, an application was granted to extend the opening hours from midnight to 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but just before 3am on August 20, a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the chest outside the club. A disturbance took place in the street at the same time.

Mr Tyson said it was the third assault where loss of life could have occurred at the premises within two years.

He said Mr Joseph had been spoken to about the matter and police concerns were voiced that the club had failed to keep proper records of visitors which did not identify injured parties or assailants who had visited the premises.

He also said the CCTV system in place was ineffective. The licensing panel decided not to grant the application because it would seriously undermine the Prevention of Crime and Disorder Objective within the new licensing rules.

Mr Joseph declined to comment when contacted by the T&A.