A GANG brawl in which up to 12 men fought with sledgehammers and baseball bats could have been linked to another similar incident the previous day, The Bolton News understands.

Police are investigating whether the attack, outside Allen's Fried Chicken in Bury Road, Tonge Fold, on Sunday, was linked to an incident in Castle Street on Saturday.

It is thought the two incidents may have been part of a turf war between rival drugs gangs.

In the latest incident, the men, who had scarves covering their faces, jumped out of a blue BMW which screeched to a halt outside the takeaway at about 3.50pm.

They initially attacked two men who were at the counter inside, before they started smashing two white 4x4 vehicles that were parked outside.

Up to five other men inside the white cars got out to join in the melee, which ended with one of the 4x4s crashing into the BMW after it was driven at the attackers.

Two men, aged 28 and 30, have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Castle Street, The Haulgh, is home to one of Bolton's most notorious drugs gangs, who were involved in a drugs turf war with a gang from Gilnow Road.

In 2011, their feud led to the fatal shooting of a man in the Brookhouse Wines supermarket in Eccles after hitman Simeon Henderson blasted shopkeeper Nasar Hussain with a machine gun.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.