Police probe arson theory

Police suspect a fire at a Bristol pub was started deliberately. The attack happened at the Black Swan in the early hours of last Friday while people were still inside. Firefighters were called to the pub at 3.50am, by which time everyone inside had left. They managed to restrict the blaze to part of the bar area. Police are carrying out a for-ensic examination of the pub, and are treating the incident as arson. Row sparks street brawl An argument at a Worcestershire pub led to a vicious street brawl between two men and left another man in hospital. Police said it was believed the fight, in the early hours of last Sunday morning, was "triggered off" by an earlier dispute at the Royal Oak in Ledbury. Another man was hit on the head with an iron bar ­ used by one of the attackers as a weapon ­ as he tried to break up the fight. He needed nine stitches to his head and suffered broken teeth. The man with the iron bar then attacked the man he was fighting, who was armed with a wooden baton. The man with the bar is aged about 20, with short blond spiky hair. He is well built and stocky. Firework rocks pub A firework was thrown into a Sheffield pub last Friday, causing extensive damage. Seven ground-floor windows and an air vent were blown out at the Cutlers Arms in Gleadless after the giant firework exploded. Lights were shattered and electrics were damaged. A piece of wood paneling was blown across the room and ended up lodged in the wall. The licensee, who did not want to be named, said the attack could have killed customers if it had happened half an hour earlier when the pub had been busy. Head pushed into window A man was injured after his head was forced through a window in a pub beer garden. The incident happened during a fight in the garden of the Prince of Wales in Cheltenham, Glou-cestershire, at about 4.30pm last Thursday. The injured man was takento the Cheltenham General Hospital for treatment. Police could not confirm whether arrests had subsequently been made but said investigations were on-going. Victim may lose sight An 18-year-old man could lose the sight of one eye after he was glassed in the face during a fight in a Warwickshire pub. Police said the man's pupil was punctured by a piece of glass during the incident at the Norton Arms Inn in Coleshill at around 10.30pm last Saturday. The fight involved two groups of young men. Two of those involved were taken tothe George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton suffering from head injuries. Any witnesses are urged to call Atherstone Police Station on 01827 718092. Mother to stand trial The mother of two young boys who died in a fire at a pub has been charged with manslaughter following a police investigation into the blaze. Five year-old Charlie Knight and his half-brother Christopher Knight, 10, died following the blaze in June at the Prince of Wales in Stoke Newington, north London. Their uncle, Ronnie Springer, was badly hurt as he tried to rescue the children. He suffered 50% burns and died last month in hospital. Charlie Knight's mother Kate Knight was arrested last week and charged with three counts of manslaughter and one of arson at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday. Knight is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 23 October. Thieves take inn's cash Two tills containing hundreds of pounds have been stolen from a Cornwall pub. Raiders forced their way through the window at the Bulls Head in Callington between 2am and 7.30am last Friday. They also stole the pub's pay phone.