IT'S A case of safety first at a Southampton pole dancing club.

While trained dancers perform highly skilled routines on stage, staff behind the bar are taking no chances with slip-ups after deciding to switch from glass to plastic glasses.

The club is the latest nightspot to back the Daily Echo's Last Orders For Glass campaign launched in a bid to increase safety and reduce injury in the city's bars, clubs and pubs.

Poletrix has made the switch from glass to plastic pint and wine containers because managers felt the move would increase customer and staff safety.

Victoria Andrews, manager of the Above Bar Street venue that is open seven nights a week, said: "We are happy to support the Daily Echo's campaign and the local police by using polycarbonate containers. We feel it's an important step forward for safety. It is also more hygienic, durable and customer friendly.

"People have asked why the change has been made and generally they have been very supportive."

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Club dancers Chelsea and Carly showed their support for the move by raising a plastic glass while wrapped around a pole.

Mrs Andrews said the club, which opened just three years ago, felt that it was appropriate to join other venues in making the switch.

For the club one of the main attractions of the polycarbonate containers is their durability.

"Their durability alone makes their cost worthwhile," she said.

"Initially it is more expensive. Most of our glassware came free from the brewery. Eventually the initial outlay will be justified by the longer durability."

However, the one obstacle to going completely plastic is with bottled lagers and other drinks as the breweries only supply these to Poletrix in glass.

"We have asked the brewery but they are not prepared to provide plastic bottles for the time being," said Mrs Andrews.

"In the meantime we will decant bottles into glasses."

The move has not dented the club's popularity with regulars continuing to flock to the venue which boasts a selection of different bars and stage shows and is a particular favourite with stag parties.

It is the latest venue to support the Daily Echo's campaign that has been supported by Hampshire Police, Southampton City Council and Southampton General Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department.

Other Southampton late night bars and clubs that have made the switchover from glass to plastic are Sobar in Bevois Valley Road, The Junk Nightclub in London Road, The Walkabout in the High Street and the new multi-themed club called Oceana due to open in the city's Leisure World complex.

The Daily Echo's campaign was launched after new figures showed that more people are being admitted to Southampton General Hospital following glass attacks than ever before.

Doctors and nurses treat around 250 victims of such attacks every year, with many people left scarred for life.

Across Southampton fewer than one in ten nightspots currently use the polycarbonate containers.