A JUDGE has warned teenagers who started a mass brawl at a birthday party that they are lucky to have avoided jail.

A 16-year-old boy and an adult were injured after a group of youths set upon them outside the Masonic Hall in Farnworth on the evening of March 20 last year.

At Bolton Crown Court Gavin Howie, prosecuting, told how a party had been arranged there for Isabel Roberts to celebrate her 16th birthday and 150 young guests attended, supervised by a group of adults.

One of the partygoers was 16-year-old Samuel Green and another was his former girlfriend, Taylor Percival.

But during the evening tensions were so great between Mr Green and Miss Percival's new partner, Jermaine Brooks, that Isabel's mother, Janet Roberts, decided to end the party at 10.30pm and take Mr Green home in her car.

However Mr Howie said that as the teenager and Mrs Roberts left the Francis Street building Brooks, who was waiting outside with a group of youths, ran towards them and punched the boy.

Others in Brooks' group joined in and when Christopher Hadcroft, who had been acting as a doorman at the party, tried to intervene, he was attacked by more then 10 people.

Mr Green and Mr Hadcroft were punched and kicked, and suffered cuts and bruises.

Police made several arrests following the incident and at an earlier hearing six people pleaded guilty to affray.

They were Jermaine Brooks, aged 18, of Kenyon Way, Little Hulton; Elliot Neale, aged 18, of Clifton Street, Kearsley; Nathan Bevan, aged 21, of Northfield Street, Bolton; Malik Handley, aged 17, of Charlesworth Avenue, Bolton; Jack Lovedale, aged 18, of Rawson Road, Bolton; Tomas Coen, aged 17, of Highfield Road, Farnworth.

Brooks' sentencing was adjourned to a future date and defence counsel for the others told the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, that they are remorseful.

The judge criticised the youths, telling them that the fight had developed "over something or nothing" and it was fortunate that no serious injuries were caused.

Coen and Handley, who were both aged 16 at the time, were given 12-month referral orders during which they must engage with the youth offender team.

Neale and Lovedale were each sentenced to a 12 month community order and told they must undertake 40 hours of unpaid work.

"I don't think this sort of conduct is likely to be repeated," Judge Clayson told them.

Bevan was also given a 12-month community sentence during which he must do 60 hours unpaid work.

Judge Clayson told the five defendants: "You should consider yourselves fortunate not to be receiving custody today."