A TEENAGE girl is recovering after she said she was attacked by a man with a metal pole during the early hours of Sunday morning, as she and her boyfriend returned home from a night out at the Corn Exchange in Devizes.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 2am in Northgate Street.

It is believed the 18-year-old girl, from Devizes, was sitting on a step when her 17-year-old boyfriend got involved in a row with another teenager.

She then got involved in the argument and received a cut to her face and injury to her arm. She later told police that she had been hit with a short metal pole, but no weapon was found at the scene.

A police spokesman said: "During the incident the woman received an injury to her arm and a cut to her face. A short metal pole was believed to have been used at one point during the altercation."

The girl was taken to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, by ambulance but released after treatment.

Police are particularly keen to speak to a taxi driver in a white people carrier who alerted them to the incident.

A 19-year-old man from London was arrested, initially on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, a charge which was later reduced to suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. He has since been released on bail.

Police say the combination of carnival street festival weekend and payday Friday meant the Corn Exchange was packed on Saturday night but there was no trouble reported inside and only a bit of 'high-spirited' behaviour outside. No other arrests were made during the evening.

Sgt Vincent Logue said that since The Crown in New Park Street stopped being a late night venue and the Four Seasons pub had closed there had been far fewer night-time incidents.

He said: "The Corn Exchange is well run and it is easier for us as we only have one venue to police at closing time. Our presence in the Market Place is usually enough to deter any problems."

But Saturday night, when the carnival procession is likely to draw a huge crowd, should pass off peacefully.

"It is very well organised and we are not expecting any trouble," he said.

Noel Woolrych, manager of the town's CCTV system, said he would be in the control room on Saturday night keeping a watch out for any safety issues or signs of trouble.