Violence flares in Oldham

Twenty men were being questioned by detectives today after reports that white and Asian gangs clashed in Aylesbury, Bucks.

Thames Valley Police were downplaying reports that Asian youths raided a National Front meeting in a residential street.

A spokeswoman said police were confronted by up to 60 people, some brandishing bats and other weapons in Russell Avenue after being called by members of the public.

The group dispersed after police made arrests for public order offences.

Thirteen Asian men and seven white men were taken into custody, a police spokesman said.

A house in Russell Avenue was being searched and

CCTV footage from the area was being analysed, he added.

He said community policing and foot patrols were being increased in the neighbourhood to reassure the public, but further outbreaks of violence were not expected.

The violence flared as Asian gangs were rioting in Oldham over race issues but Thames Valley Police said they were not linking this with the disturbance in Aylesbury.

A police spokeswoman said: "We don't know what started it off. We're not linking this to Oldham.

"We see this very much as a local issue to do with unruly behaviour more than community

tensions.

"Aylesbury has got an excellent record on community relations and people have worked very hard on this."

Aylesbury mayor Raj Khan said: "I'm fully supportive of the police approach to this matter."

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