A PUB manager who phoned the police after violence erupted among Manchester United fans in his bar was flabbergasted when his 999 call was diverted to an operator in . . . Newcastle!

Derek Allmark raised the alarm after a full scale pitched battle broke out in the Queen's Hotel, Elliot Street, Tyldesley following United's FA Cup final victory.

But the emergency call was handled by an operator in the North East.

Mr Allmark said: "We had a struggle explaining where the pub was - someone in Newcastle has no local knowledge do they?"

He added: "I just can't understand why this has happened, it seems crazy that somebody more local couldn't deal with our call." After waiting about five minutes another distress call was made as glasses and other missiles flew around the bar. That time an operator in Blackburn answered.

"Fortunately no one was badly hurt but it must have meant it took longer for the police to arrive."

Mr Allmark said police arrived about 15 minutes after the call was made. But by then the trouble had died down.

The trouble erupted at about 6.30pm on Saturday with the pub full of families who had spent the afternoon watching the FA Cup final.

Mr Allmark claims it is the second time a 999 call from his pub had ended up being answered in Newcastle.

The first time was on February 25 as trouble brewed following the Bolton v Manchester United game. Mr Allmark said: "I don't know whether it's got something to do with both calls being at the weekend or not. But whatever it is I think we deserve a more local response."

BT are responsible for dealing with 999 calls. A spokesman said that all calls from the Bolton area are dealt with by operators in Newcastle and Blackburn.

She said: "All our operators have the same database screen in front of them wherever they happen to be. They are all fully trained and know exactly how to route a call to the correct police station as quickly as possible. The public need have no need for concern."

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