POLICE were forced to use tear gas to break up a mass street brawl - which broke out during a christening party.

At one point, about 60 people were involved in the battle and every police officer in Darlington was called to the scene.

The police helicopter and officers with dogs were also despatched to the drama.

Last night, police appealed for help in tracking down the culprits involved in the battle - which started as the christening party in a workingmen's club was coming to an end.

Police sealed off the road in the town's Albert Hill estate and the fight was filmed by officers in the helicopter.

As they struggled to control people who had gathered in the car park of the Nestfield Club, two officers were hit, one in the face.

Others suffered from the effects of the CS gas.

Last night, one Albert Hill resident, who did not want to be named, said: "There were a lot of people fighting and running around. It was bedlam.

"Women were fighting and screaming, and children were standing around watching."

Officers remained at the scene for several hours to reassure residents in the area.

No one involved in the fight was injured, but police said that it could have been far more serious if they had not intervened so swiftly.

A broken snooker cue and a kitchen knife were found at the scene. Police are trying to determine whether they were being used in the fight.

When police arrived at the club, at about 5pm on Sunday, the argument appeared to have died down, but about 40 people were still milling about in the car park.

But while officers were there, a further 20 people emerged from the nearby estate looking for a fight.

Inspector Tony Avery said: "While we were there, for whatever reason, other people began to emerge.

"It became more heated and we had to intervene in order to prevent any further problems. We feared that if the two groups got together, a disturbance would take place.

"At this point there were men, women and young people who were in the street observing what was going on. So we tried to keep the parties apart."

He said one officer deployed CS gas.

Insp Avery said: "Prior to that, he had been struck in the face. Another officer was also punched."

He said that the police did not know what had caused the disturbance, but appealed for witnesses to come forward.

One resident suggested that the fight might have started when a guest at the christening party had a drink spilled over him. The guest became very angry and called some friends, who were at the Forge Tavern, to the scene.

The noise from the brawl disturbed dozens of neighbours. Some were too frightened to step outside and cowered in their homes.

Three people were arrested for public order offences. They have since been bailed while investigations are continuing.

Witnesses should contact PC Kevin Salter on 0800 6060 365.