EIGHT people have been arrested after a major brawl at a Selby nightclub in which several police officers were injured.

The trouble broke out at Disco Inferno nightclub on Water Lane in the early hours of yesterday.

Police brought in armed response officers and dog units to tackle the fighting.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said five officers were hurt, with three taken to hospital - two with concussion and one with a suspected broken hand.

He said police were called to reports of "glassing" at 2.30am and were confronted with what one officer described as "a fairly large-scale disturbance from people in drink".

Inspector Dave Sutcliffe said: "On attendance, some of the people who were fighting proceeded to begin to fight with the police who were trying to sort the matter out."

Two of the officers who went to hospital were not kept in.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said one of its vehicles had attended the scene at about 2.55am and had travelled to York Hospital.

Police eventually managed to break up the aggressive crowd and bring the situation under control.

Eight people were arrested for disorder and other offences, and investigations were still under way yesterday.

The leader of Selby District Council, Coun Mark Crane, expressed his concern at the brawl.

"All right-thinking people will be dismayed," he said. "The last thing we want is for Selby to get a reputation for anything like this.

"I sincerely hope that those involved are caught and suitably punished because it's completely unacceptable.

"Obviously, I wish the police officers involved a speedy recovery."

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the fighting. Any witnesses are asked to phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060246. The investigating officer is Det Con (881) Simon Dixon, of Selby CID.