A YORK firefighter claimed today he had been forced to resign after buying a nightclub.

Ian Wright, the new boss of Club seVen, in Ousegate, Selby, said his hand had been forced by North Yorkshire fire chiefs.

Mr Wright, 36, who is based at York Fire Station, said: "I didn't want to leave - I love the job, but they made it very difficult for me.

"Regulations state that a fireman can't have secondary employment which could bring the brigade into disrepute.

"They decided that, as I was now a licensee of premises, it would represent a conflict of interests.

"But I have a business partner, who is also a licensee of the nightclub, and he deals with the fire inspections.

"We couldn't come to a satisfactory agreement so I decided, rather than go through a full grievance procedure, I would cut my losses and hand in my resignation.

"I have been a firefighter for eight years in Selby and York and I wanted to stay."

Fire chiefs said their regulations were quite explicit - no firefighter could be employed in a business in which the fire brigade had a licensing interest.

City of York group manager Graham Buckle said: "We carry out regular inspections of nightclubs and check the premises on behalf of local councils and magistrates.

"We also have to inspect the club and prepare a report every time a club applies to renew its entertainment licence.

"There could be allegations that because Mr Wright is a firefighter we have done him favours.

"If he was no longer the owner of the club there would be no problem. It was his choice."

On a more positive note, the club is back on the up after a brawl on Good Friday.

Mr Wright said the number of customers fell drastically after the bad press surrounding the fight, but had now picked up to more than 200 at the weekend.

He said extra CCTV cameras had been installed, while door staff had been retrained and were refusing to allow known trouble-causers through the door.

He said the club would be a 100 per cent members' club by September.

Updated: 12:46 Saturday, June 05, 2004