THE jury in the trial of two men accused of being involved in a serious public order offence will be sent out to consider its verdict today.

Kamin Atar and Atsh Kaya, from Darlington, faced a trial on joint charges of causing two affrays in Middlesbrough last summer.

But at the end of the prosecution case yesterday, the judge directed the jury to enter a formal not guilty verdict on one of the charges.

Judge Richard Lowden said the prosecution had not provided enough evidence to prove the men were not acting in self-defence during a fracas.

Teesside Crown Court has heard that Mr Atar, 47, of Ruby Street, and Mr Kaya, 36, of Close Street, were involved in two separate disturbances on August 2.

The first happened at 7pm, in the car park of the McDonald's restaurant at Middlehaven, when they are said to have attacked a car with a baseball bat and a claw hammer after the occupants hurled rubbish at them and made obscene gestures.

Mr Atar, Mr Kaya and Mr Kaya's wife left the car park and drove towards Redcar on the A66, but their hatchback was chased by a motorcycle ridden by two men who had earlier been in the other car.

The pillion passenger threw rocks at the car and waved a knife at the occupants before stopping at the side of the dual carriageway.

Mr Atar and Mr Kaya were alleged to have attacked the bike and one of the men with weapons, but Judge Lowden accepted defence arguments that they were acting reasonably after being threatened.

The jury will today consider affray charges arising from the car park incident.