A COUNCIL safety boss has promised action after a high street fight broke out among revellers.

Police were called to Colchester High Street in the early hours of Saturday morning after a fight spilled from nightspot Atik into the street.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with a public order offence and is due in court in April.

Mike Lilley, Colchester Council’s public safety and licensing boss, has sought clarification from the police over the incident.

He said: “The individual bumped into friends, waited until the nightclub closed and then other people came over and started chucking bottles.

“Because there was an awful lot of people out on the High Street as well, it looked like a massive brawl but in actual fact it was a moronic argument fuelled by alcohol.

“Apparently the pair had a long feud which sparked the fight and knew one another.

“But Atik did the right thing. Security ejected the person straight away and called the authorities.”

A 22-year-old bystander was caught up in the melee and injured while standing outside the club.

In response to the incident, Essex Police put a 48-hour dispersal order in place, which allows officers to move on groups of people.

If individuals refuse, they could face criminal charges.

The results of the order are expected to be released by Essex Police today.

It has led to calls for the order to be in place every weekend.

One woman, who asked not to be named, praised the police but said there is a “malevolent undertone” in Colchester.

The 46-year-old said: “I don’t drink in Colchester anymore. I avoid it like you would the plague.

“I would choose somewhere out of the town centre like Trotters Bar as opposed to somewhere right in the centre of town because of the younger crowd.”

The mum-of-one was born and raised in Colchester and returned home four years ago after living in Hong Kong, which has a 24-hour drinking culture and heavy police presence.

However, she claimed police in Essex are now powerless to act against the behaviour caused by binge drinking.

She added: “But also the venues have a responsibility as the ones selling alcohol.

“If someone is getting lairy, you kick them out and then another pub will take them in.

“There’s just no care and due diligence anymore.”