AN INCIDENT in a Stoke-on-Trent nightclub has left 12 trampled to death after a DJ put on The Killers’ Mr Brightside within earshot of a hen party.

Patrons have blamed the horrific scenes in nightclub Sparks on the DJ, who chose to play the inciting track despite pink sashes and penis-shaped balloons being clearly visible.

Bystander Nikki Hollis said: “Whether it’s criminal negligence I don’t know, but you couldn’t miss the hens so at the very least it was recklessly endangering life.

“There was no warning. The last track was Ellie Goulding for God’s sake, so the dancefloor was virtually empty. The moment those chiming guitars kicked in, the stampede began.

“The people in the way were tossed aside like rag dolls. They never even knew what hit them. I tried to help one man but he’d been in the path of the fat one and the stiletto wound went almost straight through.”

Survivor Joe Turner said: “All I remember was hearing the opening notes then waking up under rubble. I’m okay, but six of my ribs were broken.”

The emergency services have confirmed that the building suffered serious structural damage and will have to be demolished. None of the hen party sustained any injuries.