RESIDENTS on a street where a vicious armed brawl broke out say more must be done to tackle violence, after the men responsible were jailed.

The mass fight broke at Compact Park off Bromwich Streeton on May 29 last year when five men attacked each other using weapons including an iron bar, a saw and a table leg.

Innocent passers-by were put at risk while worshippers were leaving a nearby mosque and children were nearby.

Violence: The fight was one of several incidents to occur in the area (Credit: Danny Crompton)

Violence: The fight was one of several incidents to occur in the area (Credit: Danny Crompton)

The brawl was fought between Jack Bent, 26 and Luke Bracegirdle, 30, each of no fixed abode and Andrew Williamson, 21 of Brandlesholme, Bury on one side and Daniel Llewellyn, 34, of Dingle Walk Bolton, and Michael Allen, 33 of Bradford Street, Haulgh on the other.

Bent, Bracegirdle and Williamson were jailed for their part in the fight on Friday February 4 while Llewellyn, who Recorder Richard Wright QC named as “an instigator”, and Allen were sentenced last month.

Cllr Nick Peel, who represents the Tonge with Haulgh ward and leads the Labour group on Bolton Council, said the fight highlighted wider concerns about crime across Bolton.

Concerns: Residents say more must be done to tackle violent crime in Bolton (Credit: Danny Crompton)

Concerns: Residents say more must be done to tackle violent crime in Bolton (Credit: Danny Crompton)

He said: “First of all, I’m very pleased that each of the people involved have received custodial sentences, its important for the courts to send a clear message to the community that this kind of feral behaviour is unacceptable.”

He added: “There is a real issue in Bolton, with violence, we appear to have seen an upsurge in muggings and attacks.

“It appears to be that the police are struggling to deal with it due to lack of resources.

“We’ve seen a loss of police officers in Greater Manchester due to austerity and we only now appear to be reversing that.”

Investigation: Police flooded the area after the brawl broke out

Investigation: Police flooded the area after the brawl broke out

In the wake of the sentencing, a man from Bromwich Street said violent crime has been a long-running concern.

He said: “I got knifed the other day, I was putting rubbish in the bin and someone stabbed me in the head.

“I’m not a troublemaker but its getting bad round this area now.

“I’m just a normal guy, I just got knifed in the head for no reason, they’re doing drugs and all that.”

He added: “There’s got to be something done about it.”

Another resident said there was a problem with drugs in the area.

She said:“I just saw the police when it happened. They brought out the police dogs, looking for them

She added: “There’s a lot of drugs on these streets.”

Cllr Peel said he hopes that the Mayor Precept will now allocate more resources to on the ground policing that he felt “encouraged” after a recent meeting with recently appointed Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Stephen Watson.

Cllr Peel said: “I absolutely agree with the new Chief Constable on cracking down on low level violent crime.

He added: “We’ve got a big corner to turn and I’m glad that we’re starting to make progress.”