A LEADING magistrate has warned loutish behaviour will not be tolerated on the streets of Burnley - and troublemakers had better get the message.

Jim McGowan hit out as he sentenced two men - one the father of a seven year old girl - for their involvement in large scale fighting in the town centre after the England v Sweden World Cup match.

Burnley justices had been told how two rival factions clashed after the match on Sunday June 2 and police had trouble splitting them up.

Chairman of the bench Mr McGowan told bricklayer Duncan Bradshaw, 33, and plasterer Paul Christopher Higginson, 27, both of whom have previous convictions for violence, their solicitor had saved them from jail - but they had escaped custody by the skin of their teeth..

He said the defendants could have created fear among people in the town and the violence might have erupted into something far more serious.

Mr McGowan added the fighting had "all been caused by far too much drink," and told Bradshaw he was not setting a very good example to his daughter.

Bradshaw, of Anne Close, Burnley, and Higginson, of Shakespeare Street, Padiham, both admitted affray and were each given 200 hours community punishment. They must pay £70 costs.

David Macro, prosecuting, said the disturbance, around Bull Street, Burnley, was captured on video.

People had been in the town centre pubs watching the England v Sweden match and after "some incident," two rival factions formed.

One gang seemed to be made up of older man and included the defendants and the other group was of younger men. The older group was following the younger one, intent on a confrontation.

Higginson threw a punch at a man and was at the forefront, He was forcibly pulled back by a police officer. The defendant had been smashed over the head with a bottle and claimed he was dazed.

Bradshaw was seen scuffling, throw a punch and kick out and was himself attacked. He went to the ground and was kicked in the head twice.

Philip Turner, defending, said a number of older men had challenged some younger men about their behaviour towards one man's girlfriend and were met with abuse. The defendants were not prime movers or instigators of the trouble.

The younger group "ran amok," on Manchester Road and backed off when police arrived.

Higginson was hit with the bottle and was pouring with blood. He confronted his assailant and threw a punch. He was pulled to the floor and his co-defendant intervened and aimed a kick at the other man's leg.

Mr Turner said the one person who needed medical treatment was Higginson who collapsed in a telephone box and was taken to hospital. None of the younger men had been brought to court.

The solicitor added a far more serious disturbance took place in Burnley that day when taxis were attacked at the town's bus station.

Nobody was targeted in the trouble involving the defendants, there was no damage caused and no complaints of assault. Bradshaw and Higginson were not arrested until seven weeks later.

Mr Turner went on: "This sort of offence offends public sensibilities. The most appropriate sentence would be some form of community punishment."