A bar was closed by police following a mass brawl which hospitalised three men. 

Police were called to The Fountain in Station Road, Chingford, at 12.20am on Saturday following reports of a fight. 

Three men, aged 24, 30 and 32, were found with head and facial injuries. 

The Ambulance Service was called and the men were taken to hospital. 

Detectives investigating the assault confirmed glass bottles were used, but the victims' injuries are not thought to be life threatening. 

Officers shutdown the bar and set up a cordon which remained in place for several hours. 

Warren Effeny, of taxi firm Premier Cars, was working a night shift at the cab office next to Chingford station. 

He said: "I heard it started off as a one-on-one fight and then a doorman who intervened got hit. 

"It then spiralled out of control and the whole pub started brawling.

"They can't seem to cope and I know that the doormen working along Station Road get threatened. 

"Police take an eternity to get there and a lot of them responsible sort it out amongst themselves." 

A 34-year-old man, who was in the bar at the time but asked not to be named, described the incident as a "riot" involving more than 40 people. 

He said: "I only noticed there was problem when the music went off and lights came up. 

"That was when the staff were stepping in to sort it out. 

"The management, door staff and promoters all did a great job of getting those fighting out of the bar and keeping those who weren't involved out of the way.

"It's just one of those things that unfortunately happens."

Police were previouly called to the bar by staff at around 10.15pm after a man was found with a white substance believed to be drugs.  

He ran off from the bar before police arrived and the powder was seized by police.  

The bar was open as normal on Saturday. 

PC Matt Brown, licensing officer at Waltham Forest police, said: "We treat every incident of crime and disorder seriously and take appropriate action to prevent further incidents from occurring at all licensed premises on the borough of Waltham Forest."

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Bellamy on 0203 276 0964 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.  

The Guardian has tried to contact The Fountain.