Three doormen from Baker's Bar, in Alexandra Street, Southend, spoke of their relief after magistrates threw out an assault case against them.

Christopher Plummer, 30, of Sutton Road, Southend, Mark Green, 26, of Clinton Road, Canvey, and David Burch, 30, of Sutton Road, Southend, were accused of assaulting Robert Bellamy and causing him to fear violence.

However, Southend magistrates decided that none of the witnesses had given credible evidence, there was no case to answer and dismissed it.

Mr Plummer said: "We shouldn't have been here in the first place - we were just doing our job.

"We have a very hard job to do. There should be more liaison between doormen and the police.

"This has been an ordeal for all of us as this is the first time any of us has ever been to court.

"It has been especially hard for me, because my baby was born on Monday and I have had to spend the first days of its life in court."

Mr Bellamy alleged he was assaulted after he was refused entry to the club.

Several people, including Mr Bellamy's partner, Wendy McCarthy, and his brother Russell gave evidence.

However, Christopher Paxton, for Mr Plummer, told the court: "All the witnesses say something different and are completely inconsistent."

John Hayter, for Mr Green, said: "The witnesses would have you believe there was an exchange of words and then Robert Bellamy was brutally set upon. This is incredible and not shown by the evidence."

Richard Burringon, for Mr Burch, said: "The witnesses have all been talking to each other about their evidence. There were no truly independent witnesses in this case."

All defence counsel said video evidence from the club's CCTV cameras also proved the witnesses were lying or mistaken.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.