Five people had to be treated for knife wounds after they were stabbed at around 5am on Monday morning. The fight broke out in the Calls area of the city outside a nightclub.

A week earlier, a reveller was seriously injured in a fight outside the Gatecrasher club in New Briggate at 4.30am.

It is thought his neck was slashed by a broken bottle.

Leeds rightly revels in its reputation as a city with a vibrant night life, with venues staying open until times when many people are thinking about getting up.

This booming night time economy brings people and money into Leeds, making an important contribution to the city's coffers. But worryingly this late night fun has recently boiled over into appalling violence.

If venues are continue to stay open until such hours there must be adequate safeguards in place to protect the public.

We cannot afford our city to be labelled as a place of violence and bloodshed, where revellers risk ending up in hospital at the end of their night out.

It could be that more police patrols are required to ensure this is the end of the trouble.

If so, it should be the venues and not the taxpayers who foot the bill for them.



Civic vision

IT'S pat on the back time for Leeds City Council.

The authority has received a glowing report by watchdogs from the Audit Commission.

Inspectors praised the council for its 'clear vision' for the future of the city. They say the authority is working hard to improve the quality of life for residents and boost economic prosperity.

The report also notes that Leeds provides strong leadership and value for money.

Other achievements, including better school results, lower crime rates and improved adult social care services are also mentioned.

It's impressive stuff.

Yet deputy leader Richard Brett is right to say the council must not become complacent. Clear visions are all well and good. But they are only really worth some-thing if they make that important step from paper to reality.



Fans shut out

ON Saturday Elland Road was crammed with nearly 40,000 fans for United's last league game of the season. Yet the club has now been told it can have just 1,600 tickets for the second leg of Leeds's play-off semi-final against Carlisle.

How does that make sense?

Leeds is far and away the biggest and best-supported club in the division. So come on Carlisle, give us our rightful allocation.