Police forced to swoop on traveller site after bare-knuckle fight boils out of control

ARMED police were forced to swoop in on an industrial estate after an illegally organised bare-knuckle fight between travellers boiled out of control.

fight Parkhouse Industrial EstateSWNS

Armed police were at Parkhouse Industrial Estate yesterday

Scores of firearms officers, 18 police cars and a force helicopter were deployed after chaos erupted when hundreds of travellers, who had come from Ireland and England, gathered to watch the brawl.

Staffordshire Police said they received calls from concerned members of the public who claimed to have heard gunshots between two vehicles at midday yesterday, following the fight at Parkhouse Industrial Estate, in Chesterton, Staffordshire.

The area was eventually cordoned off to the public and a detailed search of people and vehicles were carried out.

Police later confirmed that a significant number of weapons were recovered - including hammers, fireworks, baseball bats and even axes.

Officers are still investigating an unconfirmed report that a firearm had been discharged.

Yesterday, one worker from a joinery firm based on the industrial estate, who did not want to be named, said they heard it all “kicking off”.

"Obviously it was all locked up and the place is fairly secluded. But when I got there, it was swarming with police and travellers," they said.

"I couldn't believe my eyes, I've never seen that many police in one place.

Parkhouse Industrial Estate fightSWNS

A total of 18 police cars were at the scene

I couldn't believe my eyes, I've never seen that many police in one place

A worker from a joinery firm based on the industrial estate

"People were saying shots had been fired between two vehicles and there were a few scuffles that broke out as far I could see.

"It got really ugly after the fight, tensions were high and there was a lot of people obviously armed to the teeth.

“By the sound of the ones they found it's lucky nobody was hurt or killed."

Julie Nelson, who works for APC Pick Up, a parcel delivery service based on the industrial estate said that she did not see any weapons, but heard lots of arguing and shouting.

She said: "The police helicopter was in the sky for about two hours so we knew something serious was happening."

One eyewitness from the traveller community said the incident occurred after the event, causing police to cordon off the site.

Joe Joyce, a 23-year-old Irish traveller, said: "We came to support one of the fighters who won.

"It was an organised event that attracted more than 400 people.

traveller fightSWNS

The incident continues to be investigated

"It is illegal and the police didn't know anything about it.

"They wouldn't have let it happen if they had known.

"There were no problems during the fight but an incident happened afterwards and they made everyone leave.”

Another traveller, Bryan Parker, 24, came from Ireland to Staffordshire for the event.

He said: "We came here for the sport and to support one of the fighters.

"Something happened after the fight but I can't talk about it."

While there were no reported injuries, officers said they were still investigating the incident, which saw one 27-year-old female arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

traveller fightSWNS

No injuries were reported from the incident

The woman, from Burnley, Lancashire, was bailed pending further enquires and all the weapons are now being examined.

A police spokesman said: "Due to the information received armed officers were deployed, along with the force helicopter and dog support, to an area in the Parkhouse Industrial Estate after receiving reports of disorder at the location.

"Although the exact details of what has happened are under investigation, we can confirm there has been an incident involving a group of travellers.

"At this time there are no reported injuries and it is unclear if shots had been fired."

Chief Inspector Neil Hulme, who led the operation, said: "We did everything we could to keep everyone safe.

"The safety of the general public, officers and those involved was a priority.

"Although we have yet to establish exactly what has happened and who is involved, we believe those responsible are known to each other through the travelling community.

"We had additional patrols in the area to keep the local community safe."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident 296 of November 9, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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