A MAN attacked his brother in the street with a Samurai sword as a family feud escalated out of control, a court heard yesterday.

Paul Ditchburn, 31, is appearing at Teesside Crown Court where he denies two charges of wounding with intent arising out of a row with his brother Peter, which began last year.

Martin Haigh, prosecuting, told the court that 31-year-old Mr Ditchburn's family had been split by the row - which has seen his sister Lynne Foley, her daughter Chantelle and her boyfriend Martin Clarke siding with Peter.

On November 25 last year, there was a party at Peter's house, in Brotton, during which several people left the house and went to the home of the defendant, who also lived in the village.

Afterwards, police were called to Paul Ditchburn's house, where a brick had been thrown through a window and the defendant was called home from work, he said.

Mr Haigh said that on his way home Mr Ditchburn, of Rosedale Lane, Post Mulgrave, was seen driving past his brother Peter's home and "looking in".

Martin Clarke was among several people who saw the defendant drive past the house and who then made their way back to the defendant's house, followed by Peter Ditchburn.

As they approached the house, Mr Haigh said, Paul Ditchburn appeared with a Samurai-type sword and attacked his brother, hitting him in the head, arm and thigh.

Peter was left with a cut to his head which had reached the skull, a 15cm wound to his thigh and cuts to his arm.

The court heard that after Paul had attacked his brother, he chased Martin Clarke and attacked him leaving him with several cuts to his back, face and arms.

Police were called and Mr Ditchburn told them that people had attacked his house and he feared they were going to start throwing petrol bombs. He said he had got the sword from his gym, but had dropped it before any fighting started.

He said that people had been fighting on the road and if anyone had been cut it was from rolling on the sword.

However, the prosecution told the court that Mr Ditchburn later told officers that he could not remember anything after the brick had gone through the window and that a neighbour had told him about the fighting.

The trial continues.