EXCLUSIVE

GANGS of teenagers hurled bricks and bottles at police who had been tipped off about a large-scale race brawl.

About 40 white and Asian youngsters had arranged to meet in the Milnshaw Park area of Accrington but officers managed to disperse the gangs before the situation spiralled out of control.

Makeshift weapons such as broom handles, sticks and a glove with metal studs across the knuckles were ditched by the teenagers as they fled.

The incident occurred on the evening of 3 February but only came to light this week when one of those involved appeared in court.

Police, who have been monitoring alleged racial tensions at an Accrington high school, acted quickly to reassure the public that everything was under control and that community relations as a whole remained good.

Nasir Imran Mahmood, of Lonsdale Street, Accrington, was sentenced to 140 hours community punishment after pleading guilty to racially aggravated harrassment.

The 18-year-old was one of a large group of yobs who ran off when uniformed officers descended on the mob.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said that officers had heard reports of possible disorder brewing between white and Asian youths.

She said: "The officers were given information that a fight had been arranged at the park that night. There was a large group of between 35 and 40 youths but when they saw the officers they started to run off."

The court heard that the thugs swore and yelled racial abuse at the officers who chased members of the group along Hyndburn Road and Countess Street before coming to a stop near Tremellen Street.

Mahmood was with a group of 20 other Asian youngsters who continued to swear at the officers.

PC Steve O'Boyle was forced to use his baton to strike him across his thigh. He fell to the ground and was arrested.

Richard Prew, defending, said that Mahmood, whose ambition is to be a football physio, was simply "caught up" in the arrangements.

He said: "He was part and parcel of it, there was pressure to act like the others."

Following the sentencing, Sergeant Bob Eaton said: "We did have some problems in the week preceding this incident between Asian and white children. This was the culmination of it and we were in a position to prevent a more serious disorder from occurring.

"Historically there have been good community relations in Accrington and I want to reassure everybody that we will apply the law firmly and impartially against anybody who gets involved in these activities. We are currently monitoring the situation very closely."