AROUND 100 teenagers turned away at the door of a club were left stranded in Nelson Square this evening.

IKONIC nightclub had sold hundreds of tickets for its first ever under 18s night but a "technical issue" resulted in the launch party being cancelled.

The teenagers, who were drunk and taking drugs said an eyewitness, were left out in the rain in Nelson Square. One man said he saw some trying to kick a door down and others attempting to get residents nearby to buy them alcohol.

The witness, who had been in a nearby shop said about "100 minors were on Nelson Square and outside IKONIC".

He said: "Some of the minors were using balloons and blowing them up with gas, a smell of cannabis was in the air and again some of them were drinking on the street and outside the venue.

"Some of the minors tried to gain access to The Bar via the back door and were kicking the door.

"Some of the minors got into the block of flats and were asking members of the public to get them vodka.

"After about an hour most of the crowd disappeared and the police showed up to move them along. One of the girls had a bottle of wine and threw it on the floor."

Tickets for the launch party, featuring DJ Carmel, had been sold in schools around Bolton for £10 including four free drinks at the venue.

The party had been set to start at 7pm this evening.

At 6.28pm the club posted on its Facebook page: "Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight's event has been postponed till tomorrow night!!

"A technical issue has happened at IKONIC which we have been trying to resolve all day today!

"This has had to makes us do a venue change to Hardy Hall in Little Lever!!

"As an apology anyone with tickets will now get unlimited drinks for FREE instead of 4 drinks!!"

A representative of the event spoke to The Bolton News.

He said the problem had been caused by a USB stick brought in by one of the warm up acts for the night's entertainment which had "blown the system", this had happened half an hour before the due to start leading to the late cancellation.

He said: "We were hoping it was going to be a smaller job but we couldn't get the amps back on. It was something we couldn't help. It's so annoying, we had done really well and there was a big hype about it. I hope tomorrow the kids will come along.

"We want to apologise to anyone who's been let down."

The spokesman was disappointed to hear the reports that underage teenagers had been drinking and taking drugs saying: "We [put on these events] because it's something good. It's to get kids off the street as opposed to on the street."

Teenagers attending their events will be searched said the spokesman. He confirmed plans had been made for the party to take place tomorrow and any tickets purchased would be honoured tomorrow and also stamped to allow entry to a subsequent event.

He said any tickets which were unused would be refunded and the process for that would be started via website Skiddle tomorrow.

Ticketholders were urged to check the IKONIC Under 18s Instagram for updates. 

The mother of one of a 13-year-old who had arrived at the venue was disappointed with the club's statement and worried about getting her refund. 

Chelsea Oakley said her daughter, Ellie-Mai Winter, and two friends had "got all dressed up" for the night out only to be let down at the last minute. 

Ms Oakley said: "She felt dead grown up, going to her first little club. 

"When she got there a few of the others were saying it's cancelled."

There was further confusion she said because the Skiddle app used to book tickets was showing different information to different people. 

Ms Oakley hoped she would be able to get a refund for the three tickets she bought because the girls would be unable to go to tomorrow's event. 

The event information for the launch party has changed on Facebook and is now set to take place tomorrow night at Hardy Hall, Church Street from 7pm to 10.30pm.