THREE teenagers were warned they could end up behind bars after a court watched video footage of violence in a North Yorkshire market town.

A two-minute tape from closed-circuit television cameras in Knaresborough was shown to Harrogate magistrates yesterday, when three 19-year-olds pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive and insulting behaviour likely to provoke violence.

The scene in the early hours of Sunday, April 7, showed fists flying as more than a dozen youths battled in Market Place before scattering as police arrived.

In court were Edward Plumpton, of Poplar Grove, Bilton, Harrogate; Adam Smith, of Hambleton Road, Harrogate and Paul Aldis, of Kingsley Road, Harrogate.

Prosecutor Nick Ralph said the violence had its origins in an incident in Knaresborough's Night Out club involving two groups of youths. It had escalated into animosity on the street in spite of door staff at the club advising one group to "go the other way'' to avoid a confrontation.

Chairman of the Bench Pamela Henderson told the three the incident was regarded as serious, with guidelines suggesting the magistrates looked at a custodial sentence. She adjourned the hearing until July 10 and called for probation reports to be prepared covering all sentencing options, including the maximum of six months in a young offenders' institution.