Fears that alcohol-fuelled crime is rising have been voiced after a spate of unprovoked attacks and vandalism.

A 23-year-old man became the latest victim on Sunday at 2am after leaving the Rehab club on Dale road. The man was attacked by a man and woman in their early 20s, in an unprovoked assault, and was left with facial injuries.

Police are also appealing for witnesses to identify a vandal who smashed a glass door and severed an artery in his arm, on Dale Road at around 3.30am on Sunday.

Mayor Cate Hopkinson said she was shocked at the number of assaults, which in the last few months have included attacks on Hurst Farm, Matlock Green and in Hall Leys Park, and feared alcohol was to blame.

She added: "If this is happening on regular occasions, and it is starting to, there has got to be a better police presence, even to act as a deterrent.

"If bars can see that someone is getting aggressive they should refuse them more alcohol.

"They should take more of an active role as it gives them a bad name if someone comes out of their premises attacking people or causing vandalism."

Matlock town councillor Barry Hopkinson, who is on the Police Consultative Committee, said he would be raising concerns at the September meeting and Steve Elliott, chairman of Matlock Pubwatch, said they would continue to work with the police to combat the problems.

Sgt Lee Robinson, of Matlock Police, said safer neighbourhood teams already had systems in place to tackle violent crime and believed the assaults were isolated.

He added: "The local community should rest assured that Matlock remains one of the safest places in the county.

"Statistically alcohol tends to be a factor in violent crime which, unfortunately, affects the way in which individuals react to a situation and also their recollection of the events. To this end, the message is to drink sensibly."

But Cllr Cate Hopkinson called for more to be done and added: "There are concerns there are not enough police to go around at certain times when it is really busy.

"How long is it before a knife is involved? Someone is going to seriously get hurt.

"Have we got to be a high crime statistic to get something done? I know we are a low crime area but we want to keep it that way."

Anyone with information about either of the weekend's incidents should call Matlock police on 0845 123 3333.