FOUR men involved in a ‘vicious’ attack where a man had his ear bitten off have been sent to jail.

The men, who were all members of the Accrington travelling community, were involved in an attack in Oswaldtwistle on Good Friday last year.

Police said a row between two families on a travellers site off Parsonage Street erupted into violence when victim, John Stevens, had the bottom and side part of his earlobe bitten off.

John Asa Price, 26, John Paul Ward, 24, and John Price, 48, were all sentenced to nine months in prison at Burnley Crown Court for committing affray.

The trio, who previously lived in Accrington, now live on a traveller's site in Stoke-on-Trent.

Martin Joseph Thomas Ward, 20, who also lives in Stoke-on-Trent, was sent to a Young Offenders Institute for six months for affray and intimidating two witnesses.

Police said that during the row on April 2 last year, tensions between the two families reached tipping point.

Detective Constable Helen Mercer, of Accrington CID, said: “Two men who have now been sent to prison were thrown off the site the night before the attack.

“And it seems they went back to the site to take some sort of revenge which resulted in this disgusting attack on the victim.”

Police chiefs who described the attack as 'despicable' welcomed the sentences.

DC Mercer said: “It shows that even within the travelling fraternity that they are willing to stand up and use the courts rather than fighting within themselves to resolve issues.

“This sentence sends out a real strong and positive message that the travelling community have gained our trust and are willing to use the legal system in an effective manner.”