A GANG carrying baseball bats and sledgehammers ambushed two men ordering a takeaway, sparking a daylight street brawl involving up to 12 men.

Five men with scarves covering their faces jumped out of a blue BMW which had screeched to a halt outside Allen's Fried Chicken in Bury Road, Tonge Fold.

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

Up to five other men inside the white cars got out to join in the melee, which took place at about 3.50pm on Sunday, April 12.

One witness described the violence as "the scariest thing he had ever seen", and said the ambush "looked pre-meditated".

The shocking scenes have sparked a police investigation, with two men, aged 28 and 30, arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

The Bolton News understands the attack was targeted, and may have been gang-related.

A resident on Bury Road, who asked not to be named, was visiting the Coral bookmakers opposite, and said: "I pulled up and there were a couple of white 4x4s outside Allen's Fried Chicken and a few guys in the two cars.

"This blue BMW just pulled up, and five men got out with baseball bats and sledgehammers.

"At first they went for the guys inside, and I saw one guy get hit in the back with a baseball bat.

"Then they started smashing car windows and wing mirrors.

"It was the scariest thing I have ever seen.

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"One of the guys jumped back in the white car and sped off, did a u-turn, and drove back.

"He looked like he was aiming at the guys from the BMW car, but missed and smashed into the door."

The five attackers then jumped back into the BMW and sped off, with the door so damaged they could not shut it.

The BMW attackers had fled by the time police arrived a few minutes later, with staff in the Co-op store opposite raising the alarm.

Detectives have spoken to businesses nearby and have taken CCTV footage which captured the drama unfolding.

The owner of a newsagent's nearby, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I pulled my shutter down, in case they started smashing shop windows.

"I did not see any ambulances, but the police were here within minutes.

"I have been here for five years now - and three years ago you never heard a noise outside.

"Every day now, you hear shouting and noise, and it is slowly becoming a worse area."

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident of violent disorder.

"Shortly after 3:50pm on Sunday 12 April 2015, police were called to Bury Road, Breightmet, to reports of men fighting with baseball bats and driving at speed towards each other.

"Officers attended shortly after but the men had left the scene.

"Following further investigation, a 30-year-old and 28-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder."

There are no reports of injuries and anybody with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.