Gang violence will not be tolerated in Lancashire says a police chief - and he appealed to members of the community to help put a stop to it.

Detective Inspector Steve Chard said people would not be allowed to take the law into their own hands and vowed that police would do all they could to ensure communities were kept safe.

The officer was speaking out after three members of an "armed gang" involved in planned trouble at a house in Daneshouse, Burnley, were jailed for a total of almost nine years when they appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

The trio, "hooded gunman" Safraz Ahmed, 27; knifeman Abdul Ghafar, 29; and Mohammed Haroon Bashir, 32, had gone to a property on Travis Street supposedly to make peace with a rival family, the Khans, court heard.

Bashir and his brother Farooq had rowed with Tariq Khan because they did not think he showed them respect and the two families had been feuding. Najab Khan invited Farooq Bashir round to call a truce but the defendants feared the meeting might be a trap.

Instead of a reconciliation, violence flared, the court heard. Najab Khan was punched in the eye by Mohammed Bashir, who as the eldest son in his family thought he should make the visit. Mr Khan was then stabbed in the stomach by Abdul Ghafar. Ahmed, wearing a balaclava, led the Khan family to believe he had a firearm and was said to have pointed it at somebody's head.

Bashir, of Lindsay Street, and Ahmed, of New Hall Street, both Burnley, admitted violent disorder on March 13 and were each jailed for two and a half years.

Bashir, who was in breach of prison licence and a curfew, must first serve 59 days unexpired portion of his last sentence.

Ghafar, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was given three and a half years.

Judge Michael Byrne told the defendants: "The courts will not tolerate people taking the law into their own hands and will do everything to deter others from behaving in this way."

After the hearing, Det Insp Chard said, "We will continue to work effectively with the criminal justice system and the courts in successfully prosecuting those responsible.

"We are looking for support from people in the community to assist us in any future investigation."