The manager of a Hamilton nightclub is stepping up security after Police recovered a weapon from outside the premises at the weekend.

Marino Ramazio, from Splash, on Bermudiana Road, told that the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning was in no way connected to the club.

But he added: ?I?m getting very, very strict on the door. I have three security plus myself. We are very strict about who is coming in. We have a members-only list. We pick our own customers on the door. It?s not like it?s a place for everybody.?

Mr. Ramazio said it was unfortunate that the bar had been connected to two negative incidents this week. As reported yesterday, animal welfare officers are investigating allegations that a toad was mistreated by football fans at either Splash or Little Venice wine bar during Sunday?s World Cup Final.

?We try to keep a nice image,? he said. ?After Saturday?s incident, I said ?this is just my luck?. We try really hard not to expose ourselves to certain negative aspects. We do not ever like a lot of troublemakers.

?When the Police came over they checked the cameras. I said ?yes, please do whatever you need to do?.?

Police said earlier this week that officers found a firearm near the nightclub in Bermudiana Road on Saturday.

Yesterday, a 27-year-old man appeared at Magistrates? Court in connection with the incident.

Aqil Jahkiel Richardson, of Sunny Side Lane, Southampton, was charged with unlawfully escaping Police custody, possessing a Bryco Arms Jennings J22.22 calibre firearm without a licence, possessing 2.2 calibre rounds of ammunition for the firearm without a license, possession of a firearm in a public place and possession of cannabis.

Two further offences ? possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine ? are alleged to have been committed in Southampton on the same day.

The case will be heard at Supreme Court. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner remanded Richardson in custody until July 26.