THE chairman of Witney’s Neighbourhood Action Group (Nag) wants a greater police presence in the town centre at pub closing times.

Glyn Rees, who heads the 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 fight outside Norton’s bar in Langdale Court.

A 23-year-old man suffered cuts and two men aged 22 and 23 were arrested 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.”

But Chief Insp Jack Mahli, commander for west Oxfordshire, said: “Since the relaunch of the Nightsafe scheme in Witney at the beginning of the month, there are now between four and six extra officers on patrol on Friday and Saturday nights.” Mr Mahli refused to say many officers in total were on patrol at the weekend as he said it was sensitive “operational information”.

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

He 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 that fights such as the one outside Norton’s might never happen if there were more uniformed officers on patrol in the town centre late at night.

He said: “There do 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. I will definitely be raising this matter at the next Nag meeting to see what can be done.”