THREE more teenagers have been arrested following a series of fights involving pupils at an East Lancashire high school.

The youths were detained by police yesterday on suspicion of violent disorder after an alleged incident in Green Lane, Haslingden, on Friday, October 1.

Police were called to the incident at around 2pm following reports of a group of youths fighting outside the grounds of Haslingden High School.

The three youths arrested were today being questioned by officers at Burnley police station about the incident, which at this stage is not being treated as racially aggravated.

The arrests follow a fortnight of tension around the high school. On Monday, a 15-year-old white pupil was allegedly assaulted in a racist attack.

Two male Asian pupils, aged 15 and 17, have appeared in court charged with wounding the girl and have been bailed until October 26. They have also been excluded from the school.

Police were mounting extra patrols in the area around the school and said they were investigating a number of violent incidents, some of which were racist and some which involved pupils at the school.

The headteacher Eve Challinger has also written to parents to reassure them everything is being done to clamp down on trouble. But residents said they were shocked by what had happened.

Lorraine Phillips, 50, owner of Lenny's Fish and Chips of Broadway Crescent, Helmshore, the street where Monday's incident took place, said there were often groups of teenagers outside the row of shops.

She said: "It is worrying and very frightening to hear this sort of thing goes on when the shop is shut."

Hilda Haworth, 77 also of Broadway Crescent said: "I am shocked but, unfortunately, it is a sign of the times."

Officers working on the case are appealing for witnesses to the incident on October 1.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a fight on the nearby golf course.

Anyone who has any information can contact the CID office at Burnley on 01282 4722282 or they can call Crimestoppers.