THREE Hyndburn brothers who travelled to the West Country for a holiday were involved in a violent street brawl within hours of their arrival.

But a district judge used his ‘local know-ledge’ to decide the local lads had been equally up for the fight in the seaside resort of Newquay.

District Judge James Prowse said: “I am well aware of what happens in seaside towns like that.

“The locals, when they have had a few drinks, decide to give the ‘grockles’ (outsiders) a good hiding. In this case, it didn’t work out like that. The local lads were obviously up for it and, like you, they had the chance to walk away.

“No weapons were used and, fortunately, nobody was badly hurt.”Jack Haining, 20, and Matthew Haining, 22, both of Peel Park Close, Accrington, and Thomas Haining, 25, of Grange Close, Oswaldtwistle, all pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour in Newquay on August 3. They were each ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work and pay £145 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the entire incident was caught on CCTV which showed numerous people involved in a brawl outside a nightclub.

She said one local man had been dealt with by magistrates in the south west and was fined £1,000.

Paul Huxley, defend-ing, said it had not been a one-sided affair.

He said: “There were clearly two groups involved and arguably it was not these three men who started the trouble.”