GROUPS of up to 20 men are said to be "rushing" the doors of city nightclubs and bars.

Club owners say the gangs leave doormen struggling to carry out proper searches for weapons and drugs, putting safety at risk.

They want more CCTV and bollards to improve security, particularly in the Lace Market area of the city.

Police say they have worked with a number of venues who have reported incidents.

Andy Bentley, owner of Lizard Lounge in St Mary's Gate, said rushing of doors had been "very prevalent" in the Lace Market over the last two years.

He said: "Get a group of 15 to 20 lads together and doormen are not capable of holding them back. It's particularly a problem here because of the lack of CCTV.

"We have tried to get retractable bollards through here at night time as these groups of lads can drive up close to the club. The fire brigade were opposed but have now given consent.

"This issue needs to be raised again along with CCTV.

"We need it from the top of Broadway down to The Lace Market Hotel. It would help to follow the groups of lads round."

Mike Knight, chair of Nottingham City Pub, Club and Hotel Watch, said: "I know quite a few bars and clubs have had problems with this. It's quite frightening when it happens.

John Clarke, chairman of Notts Police Authority, said he would like to see "turnstile entry" to nightclubs in the city to discourage door rushing and reduce safety fears.

He added: "The whole feel good factor of going out at night is being lost."

Inspector Paul Winter, Nottingham city centre local area commander, said: "We advise venues that if they do get into a position where people are pushing past their door staff, they should turn the music off, put the lights up and make an announcement the police have been called and that the night will not continue until people have been caught who have not been paying."

Leon Tyrell, 23, died after being stabbed in a fight with barman Gairian Robinson at Cuba Libre nightclub in Greyhound Street on July 2 2006. Police said the fight followed a rushing of the doors by a large number of men.

Robinson, 26, of Lybster Mews, The Meadows, was ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years of a life jail sentence on being convicted by a jury.

Insp Winter said: "If staff had acted differently and turned the lights up earlier, we may have had a different outcome."

guy.woodford@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk