ASSAULT victim Wasim Raza was chatting with friends outside his mother's house in Temple Street, Nelson, in August last year when the Akbar brothers launched their vicious attack, Preston Crown Court heard.

They were armed to the teeth with weapons, including a bladed knuckle duster, an aluminium baseball bat, a steering lock and a "Rambo" knife.

Raza was struck several times on the head, leaving him suffering serious injuries, and the assault only ended when word spread the police were on their way.

The attack - part of a growing trend for street violence in Nelson, according to police - was carried out in revenge for an incident earlier that day when Raza attacked Masood Akbar in Burnley town centre. Raza was later convicted of unlawful wounding on Masood and sentenced to 20 months in jail.

Following a lengthy trial at Preston Crown Court the Akbars - also known by their street names of Muddy, Shoddy and Atchi - were jailed yesterday. Mahmood and Shahood were convicted of assault and violent disorder and sentenced to five years and 18 months respectively.

Father-of-two Mahmood was also convicted of violent disorder following an assault on a man in Higher Reedley Road, Nelson, in September, during which the victim was severely beaten. He was sentenced to 12 months, to run consecutive on the other prison terms.

Father-of-one Masood, the youngest of the brothers and a bit-part player, was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder during the Temple Street assault.

The court heard the assault on Raza had not been planned and was a spur of the moment response to the earlier attack.

Another man, Khalil Ahmed, 23, of Walter Street, Brierfield, was convicted of assault and violent disorder during the September assault when a man was beaten up with a baseball bat. He will be sentenced in July.

Two other men were cleared.