A BLACKBURN man has been jailed for seven and a half years for his part in an eight month campaign of violence on the streets of Bolton.

Shahid Sharif, 26, of Sandpiper Close, was one of seven involved in gang rivalry, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The men carried out a series of attacks using an array of weapons including an imitation pistol, baseball bats, metal bars and a sword.

During one incident, a group of young men were assaulted in a pool bar with bottles knuckle dusters and pool cues.

Another victim was chased from a shop by a gang of masked men and beaten in the street in front of horrified shoppers.

The court heard that witnesses who gave statements to the police were shocked at the level of violence used on each occasion by the rival gangs of Asian men.

Judge William Morris told the court: "It is not clear to me what lies behind this campaign of violent behaviour but I don't need to know.

"It is sufficient to say that for some reason gang rivalry erupted in Bolton and this kind of violent criminal behaviour will not be tolerated."

All seven men pleaded guilty to 15 charges altogether relating to five violent attacks in Bolton which took place between February and October last year. Sharif admitted four counts of violent disorder,

Sarfraz Hussain, 27, of Gilnow Road, Deane, admitted conspiracy to commit violent disorder and was jailed for three years.

A three-year sentence was handed down to Wasim Saleem, 29, of Rishton Lane, Great Lever, for violent disorder and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause alarm or distress.

Kashif Khan, 20, of Mayor Street, Deane, admitted two counts of violent disorder and jailed for two years. Hassan Kiyani, 25, of Aylesford Walk, Halliwell, Javid Khan, 25, of Mayor Street, Deane, and Rizwan Hussain, 24, of Park Road, Bolton, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

They were given sentences of two years, fifteen months and eighteen months respectively.

An eighth man, Rafaqat Khan, 27, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of wounding and will be sentenced at a late date.

Prosecutor Alaric Bassano said that the incidents "caused passers-by shock, fear and distress," and bore "the hallmarks of Bolton gang rivalry."

Defence solicitors said differences between the parties involved had been resolved.