MEN armed with crow bars and baseball bats injured four people during two incidents of major disorder in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme areas of Burnley, police said.

During the second incident on Tuesday, during which two men were attacked, a crowd of around 400 gathered on the streets.

Police said shortly before 8pm on Tuesday officers were called to reports of an assault outside Daneshouse Community Centre, in Daneshouse Road.

Two men, aged 18 and 21, were assaulted by a group of four men armed with crow bars and received cuts and bruises.

They were taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment.

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Shortly before midnight officers responded to reports of an assault on two other men by a group armed with crow bars and bats outside an address on Gordon Street in Stoneyholme.

The two victims, one aged 60 and another whose age isn’t known, suffered numerous injuries and were taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment.

One man aged 49 has been arrested on suspicion of wounding and is currently in custody.

Inquiries are on-going to identify the other offenders, police said.

The two assaults are believed to be linked and the groups involved known to one another.

Inspector Catherine Platt, of Burnley Police, said: “We have launched an investigation after incidents of disorder in Daneshouse.

“Incidents such as this are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"We will work with the community to ensure such behaviour is not repeated.

“We will identify those responsible and bring them to justice. One arrest has already been made and further will follow.

“Additional police patrols will be in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

“We recognise this is a special time in the calendar of many in the area and we will respect that.

“We need the community’s help to find those responsible and to ensure this behaviour is not repeated.

"Please help us by calling 101 with any information you have."

Daneshouse and Stoneyholme councillor, Shah Hussain, said that he was 'shocked at the level of violence.

He said: "As the police say this behaviour is unacceptable in our community.

"I don't believe organised gangs are a problem here and am hopeful this will be limited to an isolated incident involving two small groups who are known to each other.

"I would urge people to support the police in finding out who is responsible for this violence.

"During the second incident the streets would be very busy with people coming back from the mosques after breaking fast for the day so that it why there would have been such a big crowd of around 400."