A TEENAGE girl is undergoing blood tests after being stabbed with a hypodermic needle in a Newport nightclub, police say.

The incident happened during a packed Friday night at the Zanzibar nightclub in Stow Hill.

Police say a needle was stabbed into the 16-year-old girl's arm and she was immediately taken to the city's Royal Gwent Hospital by officers, where blood tests for "a range of conditions" were carried out.

The girl, who is not being named, now faces an anxious wait for the results over the next month.

A 20-year-old local man was arrested in connection with the incident at the scene, and released on police bail pending further inquiries. A hypodermic needle has not yet been recovered.

Police are apealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened just after midnight on January 3, to come forward.

Sergeant Jim Lias, based at Newport Central police station, said: "The nightclub would have been packed.

"There could have been up to 1,200 people in there at any one time, so there is a lot of potential for any of those who may or may not have seen anything to come forward." He said the girl and her family now face a worrying time.

Sergeant Lias said: "Although the likelihood of her having caught anything is slim, it is still a very scary experience for anyone."

Sergeant Bob McKelvie added: "It is a nasty incident, and it should be a concern for everyone that somebody has done this.

"There have been one or two witnesses but nothing significant yet. We hope this appeal will help."

Police say no action is due to be taken over the fact the underage girl was in the club - and owner John Parsons told us: "I am shocked that a 16-year-old got in.

"On a Friday night we stop about 150 people coming in because of their age and lack of ID.

"We have 14 security people on the door at the weekend. "People are searched at random for drugs and weapons of any description, anyone who doesn't want to be searched is not allowed into the premises."

Mr Parsons said a fracas had broken out at the time of the incident. The nightclub was searched immediately after, and again two days later.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact New-port Central police station on (01633) 244999.