VIOLENCE flared in Bury on Friday afternoon (Jan 19) , leaving one security guard injured and a teenager suffering a suspected fractured skull.

Police and ambulance staff were called to Bury College shortly before lunchtime after three male students were involved in a fight in the main foyer of the Market Street site.

In his efforts to break up the fracas, a security guard tripped and fell, suffering a dislocated knee, bruises and minor concussion. Mr Steve Silverstone was taken by ambulance to Bury General Hospital for treatment.

Police have confirmed the guard had not been attacked and that the three Asian students, from Manchester and Rochdale, were arrested soon after the fight and have since been given police bail pending further inquiries. Vice Principal Nancy Cookson said: "We are understandably shocked by this incident. It was so out of character with the daily life here.

"This sort of display cannot and will not be tolerated at Bury College."

Three hours later, a bus at Bury Interchange was cordoned off by detectives, the scene of a serious assault on an 18-year-old Asian youth.

The male teenager was struck around the head and body with a baseball bat and taken to hospital for treatment to a suspected fractured skull and a broken wrist.

The youth from Rochdale refused to co-operate with police and give details about the events leading up to the assault and the identity of the offenders.

However, Detective Sergeant Duncan Heywood of Bury's Operational Police Unit, said the matter was still being investigated.

He said: "This is a very serious assault and one that may be connected to the earlier incident at Bury College."

Witnesses to both incidents are being sought by police. Anyone who can help should contact Bury OPU on 0161 856 8157.

An 18-year-old man suffered a minor head injury when he leapt from a first floor balcony to escape an argument with another man in the reception area of Bury's DSS building in Angouleme Way.

The teenager walked to an ambulance and was treated at Bury General Hospital.

Bury police have confirmed they are not investigating the incident.