EIGHT people were injured when part of a ceiling collapsed at a Weymouth nightclub.

Partygoers were enjoying a foam party in the early hours when masonry fell to the floor at Dusk on the Esplanade.

Revellers were left covered in debris when masonry coving in the first floor bar at the historic venue crumbled.

The entire club, which contained about 350 people, was evacuated and closed as emergency services were called on Saturday. Two people were taken to hospital.

Police said clubbers suffered cuts and bruises but the Echo has learnt that two people have been left with injuries that could be potentially much more serious including a man with brain swelling.

Police praised the venue for clearing the building quickly and the way staff dealt with the situation – although one injured woman claimed customers were being let in the club while she was treated outside.

Dusk was open again on Saturday night although the room where the accident happened was closed off.

Authorities said the Grade II listed building was structurally safe after an inspection and were happy the event was a ‘one-off’.

Elaine O’Connell, of Upwey, who was at Dusk, said: “I saw the rubble on the floor and my first thought was ‘Who’s done that?’ but then someone pointed to the plaster and I was surprised to see how big the chunks of brick were that fell.

“All the staff at Dusk were brilliant, they kept their sense of humour and got everyone out safely.”

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said crews were alerted at 2.17am.

He said: “The masonry coving – the decorative part of the ceiling along the wall – above the first floor dancefloor collapsed.

“The room was evacuated and the building inspectors were contacted and the nightclub was closed.

“There were eight casualties. Two were taken to hospital.”

GENERAL MANAGER IS ‘SHOCKED AND SADDENED’ BY INCIDENT

GENERAL manager of Dusk Brett Dunster said he was saddened to hear people had been injured and passed his thoughts onto those who are still being treated.

He said the club had attempted to contact everyone who had been injured to check they were okay.

Mr Dunster said: “It is dreadful there are still people in hospital. As far as we knew, people only suffered minor injuries.”

He stressed that decorative coving had fallen down at the venue and not the ceiling itself.

He added: “We’ve looked at it and had meetings with the police, fire and building control and it seems there’s nothing we could have done to prevent this from happening.

“It’s a very unfortunate incident and certainly a shock to us and it’s sad that people were injured.”

Mr Dunster said he is confident the venue dealt with the situation efficiently and this view has been confirmed by the police and the majority of responses he has received from customers who were there on the evening.

He said Dusk would continue to open as normal but the bar in question would be closed and a programme of