FIFTY people were involved in a street brawl in Blackburn, police said.

The fight is believed to have started after a dispute between two men got out of hand and extended family members joined in.

The incident happened in Chester Street in the Audley area of the town at 7pm on Tuesday.

Salim Mulla, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques and a local councillor, said he was ‘disappointed’ to hear of the incident.

He said: “I am saddened to hear that something of this nature has taken place in the heart of the community.

“For a group of 50 lads to have a fracas like that, it is completely out of order and it doesn’t help with the community relationship.

“It sends out the wrong message and wrong signal and makes it look like the area has a problem.

“I have spoken with community leaders and an announcement will be made in the Chester Street Mosque on Friday that these incidents should never take place and if there are issues, then they need to be talked about and resolved within the family.”

Coun Mulla said he believed it was necessary for community leaders to work together to make sure this does not happen again. He said: “The community itself needs to take more responsibility.

“The mosque plays a very important role in our lives and it is this key message that needs to go out.

“If the community leaders do take a lead, parents will send that same message to their children.”

Inspector Des Barr said six local men had been arrested, aged between 19 and 32.

One man had to be taken to hospital with head injuries but was later discharged.