A SOUTHAMPTON nightspot where a university student was left needing 26 stitches after being struck in the face with a glass has switched to plastic.

The Junk nightclub is the latest venue to back The Daily Echo's Last Orders for Glass campaign, which is also supported by Hampshire police, Southampton City Council and Southampton General Hospital's Emergency Department.

The London Road venue is one of a growing number of late city bars and clubs in Hampshire to use the plastic - polycarbonate - containers.

Management at the club had been considering making the move even before 26-year-old Andrew Len-nox was glassed leaving him with a deep wound.

As reported in Monday's Daily Echo Joseph Jennings, 21, of Archery Grove, Woolston, admitted wounding and was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court to 16 months imprisonment.

Staff at the Junk nightclub began serving all drinks in plastic earlier this year and so far the change appears to have been a big success.

Managing director Steve Hitchcox said: "We have always prided ourselves at Junk on putting the safety of our customers first.

"Luckily we get very few incidents but nonetheless our voluntary introduction of the polycarbonate glasses a few months ago has been very well-received."

The 550-capacity club is open every night except Mondays and is predominantly aimed at students during the week and locals at the weekend for its house music nights.

Other bars and clubs that have already backed The Daily Echo's campaign include The Walkabout, SoBar, and the new Oceana superclub due to open at Southampton's Leisure World complex later this year.

The Last Orders For Glass campaign aims to reduce the number of victims of glassing incidents which can leave victims scarred for life.