CLUBBERS accused bouncers in Swindon of using heavy handed tactics.

The criticism came as a video surfaced online that appeared to show one doorman stamping on a man as he lay prone on the ground outside Boston Brothers in the early hours of Saturday.

One man, who was out celebrating his 19th birthday on Friday night, said one bouncer had acted aggressively towards him as he left the bar at around 3.30am.

“One started getting up in my face, shoving me, saying ‘What are you going to do about it,?’” said the man, who asked to remain anonymous.

He told the Advertiser one of the bouncers held him around the neck, while another picked up his feet. He fell to the floor and played dead, hoping the bouncers would leave him.

The incident had been reported to the police, the young man said. The fight had left him with a swollen cheek and a lump on the back of his head.

Video footage appears to show one member of door staff, dressed in a white shirt and black vest, stamping on a clubber’s back.

A clip of the incident shared on social media site Twitter was retweeted more than 100 times by Saturday lunchtime. It has since been deleted.

Boston Brothers' statement in full

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of an incident that took place outside Boston Brothers in Bridge Street, Swindon, during the early hours of Saturday morning.

"We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we have since launched an internal investigation. The safety of our customers is our primary concern, we will be liaising closely with our security provider and taking action as is appropriate in the circumstances.

"It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time."