A MASS brawl involving around 40 people who had been to a funeral erupted at a pub.

The fight, which happened at about 6pm on Friday, started inside the Kings Arms, in Plodder Lane, Farnworth — where locals, including some elderly residents, were caught up in the disturbance — and spilled out into the street.

Witnesses said that one man was run over by a van that the group had been vandalising, after reportedly attacking its owner and his wife, who were next door at The Grapes Inn.

Alan Smith, landlord of the Kings Arms, said that as the van owner drove away from the scene, he ran over the arm of one of the group who had been fighting. He said the injured man was treated by paramedics at the scene, but the extent of his injuries is currently unknown.

A number of police cars descended on the pub to break up the fight, which Mr Smith described as "scary" for locals who had come into the pub for a quiet drink, including an 86-year-old man who was knocked off his stool.

Other Plodder Lane residents said they heard raucous fighting in the area and a "thud" from the crash.

Mr Smith told The Bolton News: "There were a group of people who had been to a funeral. They had been kicked out of another place and came in here.

"They started to cause trouble in here and started to smash up this guy's van.

"They were fighting among themselves outside and kicking this lad's van, so he came out to drive it away. He was in the pub next door and had his wife with him.

"He managed to get his wife in the van but they tried to drag her out and started to attack her.

"So he drove off, as anyone would, and ended up running over one of the men who had fallen over while chasing after him. Luckily, he only went over his arm. I thought it had killed him at first.

"We didn't know any of them. They just came in and took over the pub and within minutes they were fighting. It was awful."

He added: "There were loads of police around, it was just a terrible situation. Unfortunately, that is part of running a pub sometimes. You never know who is going to walk in.

"They seemed intent on fighting anyone they could. They aren't welcome back here ever again.

"It was scary because we have elderly people who come in here on a Friday for a quiet drink.

"There was one 86-year-old man who got knocked off his stool. All we could do is try to protect the local people, but when there are 40 people fighting there is only so much you can do.

"I hope I never have to go through something like this again because we don't run that kind of pub."

Nearby neighbour Debbie Mather said that one woman was seen sobbing on the pavement in the aftermath of the fight.

She added: "I saw the police cars outside and the paramedics treating a man on the ground.

"It was absolutely ridiculous and there is no need for it. It wasn't even late at night, this was in daylight. I was shocked.

"There is never any trouble at that pub, I know the landlord is strict about who they let in.

"You get used to hearing sirens up and down Plodder Lane but there is usually no trouble there."

Another Plodder Lane residents added: "We heard the noise of the fighting and saw it going on from outside our bedroom window. My son said that he heard a thud from the crash."

Police were unable to confirm whether they are investigating the incident and whether any arrests were made.