VIOLENCE erupted at Bury Football Club last night when the mascots of the two rival teams traded punches.

Bury's Robby the Bobby was thrown out of the ground -- for the second time this season -- after a violent brawl with the Cardiff mascot during the Gigg Lane clash.

The Shakers mascot -- named after Robert Peel, the founder of the police force -- exchanged blows with his opposite number, Barclay The Bluebird, near the corner flag minutes after the start of the second half.

The mascots began trading punches and, as the match continued, even fought on the floor.

Stewards waded in to separate the scrapping duo and escorted the Cardiff mascot from the ground.

The man inside the Bury costume, Jonathan Pollard, was thrown out of the ground earlier this season after "mooning" at Stoke City fans.

But today he protested his innocence and blamed his opponent for starting the trouble.

"He came over to me and threw a few punches in front of my face, pretending to hit me," said the 24-year-old, who only took over the job at the start of the season.

"One of his punches connected so I responded. We ended up on the floor and the stewards came over and threw him out."

Robby was also escorted from the pitch.

Bury chairman Terry Robinson said: "The mascots decided between themselves at half-time to have a bit of fun, but their mascot caught him, Robby slipped and fell on top.

"Our stewards decided to eject them both for public safety reasons but Robby has been completely exonerated by our head of security."

It remains to be seen if the Football League takes any action but the furore certainly did not affect the team's performance. Bury won the match 3-0 and climb off the bottom of the table for the first time since September 22.