RIVAL gangs used potentially lethal weapons in a violent mass brawl when they clashed on a Hampshire estate, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Axes, samurai swords, daggers, hammers, knives and baseball bats were used when two street gangs clashed in Southampton.

A stab wound to a gang member’s buttocks, a knife wound in an innocent resident’s thigh and a cut to the head after being smacked with a lump of wood were just some of the many bloody injuries people suffered in the vicious attack involving dozens of people.

Nine arrests were made and two youths have now been sentenced following the violence between the “Townhill Boys” and the “Thornhill Boys”.

The shocking details were revealed at Southampton Crown Court when David Gough, 19, of Meggeson Avenue, was put behind bars for 14 months for his part in the brawl. Cameron Jordan, 22, who drove the van of Thornhill Boys gang members, was earlier jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to his part in the fight.

The violence erupted when nine armed males known as the Thornhill Boys jumped from the back of a white Volkswagen Transporter van and started attacking another group waiting in the street, the court heard.

Prosecutor Scott Stemp said members of the Townhill Boys armed themselves with parts of trees while they fought in the five-minute ordeal in Meggeson Avenue, Townhill Park, at 9pm on June 12 last year.

Mr Stemp said terrified residents from nearby homes called police and some even became involved in the brawl which left many injured.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Gough, who pleaded not guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon but was found guilty by a jury, was initially seen to run away with a big tree branch.

But, after seeing members of his gang being stabbed, he came back with it and started striking the van, leaving the vehicle dented and smashed.

In Gough’s defence, Paul Dugdale said he did not know the gang would show up and the violence used by Gough was against the van in response to the armed group but not against a person.

He added that the brawl happened when Gough was 18 and he has since become fully employed as a landscape gardener.

He said: “He has not committed an offence since. It would appear there’s a corner that has been turned by Mr Gough.”

Passing sentence judge Gary Burrell QC told Gough, who had a series of previous offences: “The members of the public in the area were affected, many were frightened and some phoned the police because of the extent of the violence they were witnessing.”

He added: “Your part in this bad case of street violence when weapons were used and people were injured was serious.

“People must know the courts cannot and will not tolerate this form of anti-social behaviour in the hope that Thornhill and Townhill youths will stop engaging in violence.”