ONE man has been jailed and three others given community punishment orders for their part in a riot that broke out when 300 people gathered to celebrate the end of a religious festival.

Preston Crown Court heard how a "thoroughly disgraceful incident" arose with bottles being thrown and fighting during celebrations for Ramadan.

The events took place at the Capitol Centre, in Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, as Asians met to mark the festival of Eid. All four sentenced had pleaded guilty to affray and another man awaiting sentence has had his case put back to next month.

Javeed Patel, 19, of Granville Road, Blackburn, was ordered to do 150 hours community punishment and pay £250 costs; Sajid Hussain, 21, of Mandela Court, Blackburn, was told to carry out a hundred hours work and pay £250 costs, while 19-year-old Faser Hussain of Calder Street, Blackburn, was made the subject of a 40-hour community punishment and 12-month rehabilitation order. Around four-and-a-half months in prison was also imposed on 22-years-old Jahangeer Khan, of Hildon Street, Bolton.

Mark Ainsworth, prosecuting, said on February 12 a large number of youths congregated at the Capitol Centre. There was loud music from cars and horns sounded, but the evening turned to violence.

Police were called to the scene following an incident inside Megabowl. A number of separate incidents took place on the car park outside. None of the defendants were said to have instigated the violence. Khan was seen to throw a bottle which smashed on the ground, without hitting anyone.

Patel threw a bottle at a group of people but did not hit anyone, while Sajid Hussain brandished a bottle and grabbed hold of someone. Faser Hussain had lashed out with fists as a fight broke out. Patel and Sajid Hussain had no previous convictions.

Michael Brady, defending Khan, said his client had been struck on the head in an incident. He distanced himself from what took place and went to a friend's car, but he then threw a bottle.

Philip Andrews, for Patel, said he had been in the crossfire of bottles being thrown. Two bottles missed him, another hit a friend and another landed very close to Patel. He added: "He threw it back in the direction it came from. It didn't hit anyone."

Philip Holden, for Sajid Hussain, said he got involved when a friend was assaulted by a number of other males. He threw one of them to the floor, threatening him with a raised bottle.

Mark Stuart, for Faser Hussain, said he had not used a bottle. Judge Christopher Cornwall said the festival of Eid had been a joyful celebration of the end of Ramadan. Initially the crowd were relatively well behaved and he was satisfied the majority of those attending had no intention of public disorder. But it ultimately became an incident of significant public disorder. "It was plainly a thoroughly disgraceful incident," the judge added.