SEVEN men were arrested after a street brawl involving baseball bats, axes and swords.

The men - all from the Darlington area - appeared before magistrates today.

The court heard that witnesses spotted two cars pull up at Yarm Road at around 6pm on July 17. Passengers got out of the vehicles and started to attack each other with weapons.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said: "The men involved were obviously anticipating trouble because they were armed with weapons.

"Vehicles were damaged with baseball bats. Witnesses saw windows being smashed. Axes were being wielded and police later seized a samurai sword.

"One of the men received an injury to his eye caused by some form of weapon."

Seven men were later arrested and charged with affray.

In court yesterday three men from Darlington - Mark Colin Burr, 26, of Geneva Road; Scott Harris, 34, of Larch Court, Moorfield and James Richard Harris, 25, of Banktop Mews, Bank Top - entered no pleas. The following four men pleaded not guilty - Andrew James Gentles, 28, of Yarm Road, Darlington; Nigel George Gentles, 32, and George Gentles, 56, both of Cypress Grove, School Aycliffe, and Gary Harris, 27, of Aldbrough Walk, Lascelles, Darlington.

XDarlington magistrates refused jurisdiction because the matter was too serious and agreed to commit the case to crown court.

The men were given unconditional bail to return to Darlington Magistrates' Court on November 20.