Eight arrested after men fought with bats and poles

Extra police officers have been deployed in St Helens after eight men were arrested following a mass brawl.

Merseyside Police said a group armed with poles and bats were seen fighting on St Helens Linkway on Thursday.

Six men aged between 15 and 19 were arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of offensive weapons in a public place, while two others - aged 18 and 22 - were detained on suspicion of affray.

A dispersal zone remains in place until 14:00 BST on Sunday, enabling police to order members of the public to leave the area and not return for 48 hours. Those who fail to comply face arrest.

The dispersal zone covers the area within the boundary bordered by East Lancashire Road, Abbey Road, Hard Lane and Rainford.

A stop search order, which gives officers enhanced stop and search powers, was in place until 14:00 on Saturday.

Additional officers have been in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents.

Insp Paul Varley said: "Such violence will not be tolerated."

He added that extra officers patrolling the area would ensure those "who are causing such issues are appropriately dealt with so they do not cause distress to residents in the community".

Varley continued: "Such action isn't about bothering anyone going about their daily business or preventing people from meeting with friends.

"It's simply about taking action to reduce violence and make sure that everyone can feel safe where they live."

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