A SALE nightclub has been closed after police issued a public safety closure order.

The closure of the Ebony club on Ashton Lane comes after officers were called to the club on January 12 after reports that a number of shots had been fired outside.

The club was given the order under the Licencing Act on Friday January 25 and were told the following Monday at Trafford Magistrates' Court the business would stay closed until a hearing with Trafford's Licensing Authority.

Magistrates explained that because licensee John Parker and joint owners Justin Orange and Nicola Orange could not guarantee public safety in the vicinity of the club's premises, it was of utmost importance for the venue to close for the time being.

They said: "We know this will affect the owners, who have co-operated fully but public safety is paramount and it is that and only that which forces us to make this decision today."

Licensing officer PC Phil Blundell told magistrates the club was given mandatory conditions to follow by police including staff training, a CCTV overview and a log book made available to officers at all times.

PC Blundell said the order was made after logged incidents of thefts, assaults and woundings, public disorder and an attempted murder were detailed in the book.

He added that there had been evidence of minors in the club when officers went in there with head cameras.

The Ebony owners denied serving alcohol to minors and spoke of how they had implemented all the police proposals and gone even further to comply with them by introducing plastic rather than glass for drinks, employing a toilet supervisor, four licenced door men and installing a metal detector.

Nicola said: "If the order goes ahead the people we employ would lose their jobs as we work on a week to week basis. If we close the trouble won't stop, it would just move on to the next place."

John Parker told magistrates he had offered police money to have more patrols at the club on weekend nights but was told resources were not available for that.

Sale neighbourhood police inspector Brendan O'Brien, who issued the order, said: "A closure order is not a decision I make lightly and nor is potentially taking away someone's livelihood. This has been about information received plus the history of the premises over the last few months. This matter will be brought to the licensing committee as soon as possible."

The shooting at Ebony was closely followed by an incident in Stretford on Saturday, January 20, during which 20-year-old Halton McCollin was shot and died three days later in hospital.

The promising footballer was rushed to intensive care after he was shot in the China Gardens takeaway on Chester Road while going to get food with friends.

It is believed two masked men, one holding a gun, ran into the takeaway just after 8.45pm and a number of shots were fired. Halton was found bleeding badly from his wound.

Nobody else was injured in the incident.

CCTV of the area from Saturday show there were potential witnesses to the killing, and it is these people to whom police are appealing.

Anyone with any information about this shooting is asked to contact the major incident room on 0161 856 4159 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.