THE chairman of Witney’s Neighbourhood Action Group has called for a greater presence of police in the town centre at pub closing times.

Glyn Rees, who heads up the multi-agency body made up of local authorities, police, and residents, said he wanted more bobbies on the beat after planks of wood were used as weapons in a street fight outside Norton’s bar, in Langdale Court.

A 23-year-old man suffered cuts to his hands and face, and two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested at the scene for affray. They have been bailed until April 28.

Mr Rees said: “There is a need for a greater presence in the town centre after hours. I think the extension of licensing hours has exacerbated problems.

“When everything shut at 11pm, the police were able to concentrate on those times.

“Now, with places staying open until 1am or 2am, it doesn’t seem like they have the people available to cover that.

“It is rather shocking and worrying to hear that people are using weapons like this.”

Chief Insp Jack Mahli, the area commander for West Oxfordshire, denied there was a lack of police presence in the town.

“Since the relaunch of the Nightsafe scheme in Witney at the beginning of the month, there are between four and six extra officers on patrol on Friday and Saturday nights,” he said.

Mr Mahli refused to answer how many officers in total were on patrol at the weekend, as he said it was sensitive “operational information”.

He said the planks of wood were thought to have come from a nearby rubbish area, and added: “The use of weapons like this is something that is very, very rare, and aside from a case involving an imitation firearm a few years ago, I can’t think of another incident like this.”

Mr Mahli added the town’s CCTV network also helped officers to respond to incidents faster.

CCTV controllers spotted the fight in Langdale Court at 2.30am on Saturday, April 4. Mr Rees said he believed fights such as the one outside Norton’s may never have happened if there were more visible uniformed officers.

He said: “There does seem to be more incidents in that part of town than any other.

“None of us want to see Witney going that way and getting worse, and I will definitely be raising this matter at the next NAG meeting to see what can be done.”

Colin Brown, 37, who owns The Laughing Stock, in Langdale Court, said he had arrived at work on the Saturday morning to find blood splattered on the pavement outside his shop.

He said: “It isn’t something that I like to hear, that people are using weapons like this. It does make you worry.

“I hope whoever it was, wasn’t from Witney.

“You don’t really need that sort of person in the town.”