TWO brothers were injured when "disharmony" between two families erupted into violence in the street, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Geoffrey Gibson was allegedly repeatedly attacked with wooden batons after being "ambushed" in Huncoat, in August 1998.

Mr Gibson blacked out and suffered a head wound and Keith Gibson got a black eye after being struck with a crash helmet and punched.

In the dock are father and son, Duncan Johnstone, 36, and Duncan Cash Johnstone, 17, both of Lynwood Road, Graham MacGregor, 39, of Station Road and Matthew Saunders, 18, of Alder Grove, all Huncoat. All deny violent disorder. Duncan Johnstone denies wounding Geoffrey Gibson with intent to do grievous bodily harm and MacGregor denies assaulting Keith Gibson, causing actual bodily harm.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said there had been trouble between the Gibson and Johnstone families.

On August 12, Keith Gibson went to visit his brother and as the two and their wives were in The Whittaker Arms, they saw the Johnstones drive past.

They went home and the wives later went out in a car with a video recorder. The two Gibson brothers then went out with Keith Gibson's wife. Some time after 10pm, they stopped their car at the top of Station Road, where MacGregor lived.

Members of the Johnstone family were in the vicinity. A missile was thrown at the car. The Gibson brothers got out and Geoffrey Gibson spoke to Saunders, who had a scooter helmet in his hand. Geoffrey Gibson claimed he was "ambushed" by a group of men and hit by Duncan Cash Johnstone with a wooden baton, while the teenager's father shouted encouragement.

Duncan Johnstone allegedly hit Mr Gibson and Saunders joined in. Mr Gibson blacked out and came to, with Duncan Cash Johnstone hitting him, again egged on by his father. Saunders stopped and shouted: "Stop, you're going to kill him," but Mr Gibson was struck a heavy blow as Johnstone senior raised a wooden stick high above his head and brought it down on the complainant's head as he lay on the ground.

Mr Lamberty told the court a woollen hat "clearly associated" with Geoffrey Gibson was found on the pavement. All four defendants were assaulted and MacGregor, Saunders and Johnstone junior injured.

Saunders said the Gibsons were going at him with hammers. Geoffrey Gibson claimed he swung the crash helmet in self defence. Both Johnstones claimed they went to MacGregor's house for safety and did not start any violence.

(Proceeding)

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