Stabbing at Wolverhampton lapdance club closes street

A stabbing at a lap dancing club resulted in a busy city centre street being closed off by police today.

More than 20 businesses were affected as detectives sealed off the entire length of Queen Street in Wolverhampton following violence at the Cobra Club.

Police were called to reports of a disorder at the club at 3.48am and a man was rushed to New Cross hospital with a stab wound to his chest. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Officers guarded cordons at both ends of the road as well as a back entrance to the club in Berry Street. Buses had to be diverted and people arriving for work in the road today were being turned away as forensics officers moved in to the scene.

The cordons were lifted in Queen Street at around 11.30am.

Ruby Camp, who runs Teddy's Hair Design in Queen Street, said her business had already suffered a slump in passing trade during the creation of the nearby £22.5 million bus station.

"The businesses in this street have already been hit hard enough because of the bus station," she said.

"We have an appointment for a woman having her hair done for her wedding and we also have wedding hair trials booked in.

"Saturdays are our busiest day. It is my biggest day to pay the wages.

"If we could get into the shop to get the numbers for our customers then we could ferry them over to the other shop in Cannock but they won't let us in."

Sue Newey arrived for her job at the Co-op supermarket at 5.30am but was told she couldn't get inside.

"The cordon was up when I got here and I don't know what time we will be allowed back in," she said. "It is a shock to get to work and find this."

West Midlands Police spokesman David Hodgetts said: "We were called to reports of a disorder at the Cobra Club at 3.48am. A man received a stab wound to the chest and was taken to hospital. His injury is described as serious but not life threatening."

Two men have been arrested and are helping police with their inquiries.