POLICE want to stop a nightclub opening until 5am for a birthday party after officers attended a string of call-outs there involving violence and disorder.

Officers say there have been too many incidents of drunken violence at the Mandela club and restaurant, in Hanley, for the extension of opening hours to be allowed.

Natalie Critchley has applied to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to hold a party for 200 people from 10pm next Saturday. It would last until 5am the following day.

But officers from Staffordshire Police's licensing unit have compiled a list of incidents the force has been called to in and around the venue in recent months.

They include a woman attacking another woman with a stiletto shoe, leaving her with a gash to the head.

Club owner Ronnie Chigaduro is also under investigation by licensing officers after a spot check revealed eight of the venue's licence conditions were not being obeyed.

The last time a temporary events licence was requested for Mandela was in September last year, when Mr Chigaduro wanted to hold a similar party.

Police also objected on that occasion, again submitting a list of call-outs they had received for violence and disorder, and the council refused to grant permission for extended opening and ruled the venue must shut at 3.30am as normal.

Licensing officer Sergeant Dave Wright said: "The police believe allowing the application would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder. The applicant in this matter has spoken to the police and stated the event would be run by Ronnie Chigaduro, the applicant for the last temporary event which was refused by the council."

From October to February, police were called to Mandela six times.

On November 7, a man was taken to hospital with a broken nose and concussion after being assaulted outside the Piccadilly club.

On January 30 a man was arrested following a domestic dispute outside Mandela, and on February 5 officers had to arrest an 18-year-old man before taking him to hospital because he was so drunk.

A report of an assault on February 20 saw another man arrested.

A week later, on February 27, police were called to a brawl outside the bar where a woman had received a serious head injury.

The victim said she had been attacked by a woman wielding a stiletto shoe and a female was arrested on suspicion of wounding. A police investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Back in November officers visited the venue to check staff were complying with the terms of the club's licence, and found eight conditions had been broken.

A closure notice was served which meant the club had to shut for the night, and the club venue remains under investigation.

Miss Critchley's application will go before the city council's licensing sub-committee on Monday, but will be heard in private.

No one from the club was available for comment.