The owner of the Buttermarket today said he believed the shooting had not taken place inside his club, although police had told him nothing about their investigation.

See also: Panic after nightclub shooting

Kerry Wycherley, who has owned the venue for more than 20 years, said he was “baffled and bemused” as to what exactly had happened.

Mr Wycherley said the event last night had been put on by a private promoter, but he had been called in after the club had become extremely busy.

He said he did not believe there had been a major incident inside the club.

“By the time I got there the fire alarm was going, which automatically cuts the music off. Then I heard a loud bang and when we went to have a look to see what had happened there was a fire extinguisher which had been thrown through a plate glass door.

“We don’t know why the fire alarm went off, so we had to clear the building, which we did in less than three minutes.

“The police came and said we had done really well, but then there was some guy at the top of the road who said he had broken his arm and they took him to hospital.

“There were some lads who were hanging around outside and who were not allowed in because apparently they had been causing trouble. As far as we were concerned he had broken his arm, but then somebody said the guy had been shot.

“Everybody was sear-ched for drugs and anything illegal on their way in so we are baffled and bemused as to what has happened.”

He said police were not telling him anything about what had happened, despite using his club as a base for their investigations.

Mr Wycherley said he planned to open the Buttermarket as usual this evening for a club night in the Cellars section of the venue.

The club is one of the biggest independent venues in the West Midlands.

By Andy Robbins