FOUR innocent bystanders were taken to hospital after being slashed and stabbed during a street brawl which broke out in a North-East town early yesterday.

Durham Police, who condemned the use of knives, have appealed for witnesses to the fight between two men in John Street, Consett, at 2am.

Detective Inspector Simon Orton, of Consett CID, said: "While the exact chronology of events is unclear, it seems a crowd of people gathered around the fight. An 18-year-old woman and three men in their late teens and early 20s were injured.

"The woman suffered a puncture wound and slash wound to her leg; a 19-year-old man was stabbed in the leg; a 23-year-old man's wrist was cut, and a man in his early 20s was slashed in the right arm and cut about the stomach and hand."

All four were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment. While none of the injuries was described as life threatening, the victims may require plastic surgery. The 18-year-old woman was still recovering in hospital last night.

Det Insp Orton said: "We are treating this very seriously. A flesh wound could easily have been a heart wound or fatality.

"It is distressing to see knives, and being carried and used in a situation where people are out to enjoy themselves."

He said a man in his late 30s has been arrested and a blood-stained butterfly knife recovered several hundred yards from the scene. A second man is still being sought.

Det Insp Orton said: "It is still unclear how the four victims came about their injuries.

"But it appears they were innocent bystanders caught up in a melee that was witnessed by at least 40 people who were in the street. We need anyone who witnessed this frightening assault to come forward as a matter of urgency.

"We would also like to talk to people who were inside the Trades nightclub who may have witnessed an earlier disturbance between two men who were ejected from the club."

Anyone with information has been asked to call Consett police on (01207) 504204.