A PUB has been shut down by police following a mass brawl.

Officers imposed a temporary closure order on the Home Tavern in Eastleigh after a fight between two groups broke out inside.

The pub's immediate future will now be decided by magistrates at a court hearing tomorrow. They could order the premises to remain closed until Eastleigh Borough Council can review its licence in mid-January.

Police arrested three men after being called to the Home Tavern on the corner of Southampton Road and Leigh Road, opposite Eastleigh rail station, at about 2.20am on Saturday.

It is understood that two large groups of people were involved in a fight, which spilled outside.

A 32-year-old and 19-year-old man have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. They are due to report back to Eastleigh police in February.

The third man who was arrested has since been released with no further action to be taken.

The temporary closure order comes just two months after the neighbouring Earth Bar and Club was closed down permanently. Eastleigh Borough Council revoked its licence after more than 140 reported incidences of trouble outside the club.

Tomorrow, Southampton magistrates will decide whether the Home Tavern should stay shut until the council decides if it should suffer a similar fate.

Magistrates will have the option of completely closing the pub until a review can take place, on or around January 16. They could also opt to allow the Tavern to stay open in that time, either with or without certain conditions.

Yesterday, Eastleigh District Chief Insp Diana Boyles said police had been given no option but to issue the temporary closure order.

She said officers have recently been working closely with licensed premises in the town to make sure they are aware of their responsibilities as licensees.

"Eastleigh is a safe place to socialise and I am committed to ensuring that this situation remains," she said.

"My staff and I have a duty to prevent, where possible, incidents of crime and disorder. When a problem arose in the early hours of Saturday we were left with no choice but to issue a temporary closure order in order to prevent further disorder."

No one from the Home Tavern was available for comment.