A shocking photograph showing a young gang armed with a machete outside a cinema complex has been circulated on social media after a brawl broke out and police officers were attacked.

Pockets of fighting erupted in a 100-strong crowd at Star City cinema in Birmingham this afternoon after a 'group of people arrived with machetes'.

Several arrests were made and police officers were assaulted as they descended on the scene armed with guard dogs at 5.30pm. It has also been alleged that they were carrying tasers.

Families and young children were at the cinema to see Frozen 2.

This shocking picture shows a young gang armed with a machete. It was circulated on social media after police descended on cinema complex Star City in Birmingham

A brawl broke out at Star City cinema in Birmingham this afternoon after a 'group of people arrived with machetes'. (Pictured: Crowds inside the cinema)

Police rushed to the scene with guard dogs where they found a crowd of 100 people where fighting had started 'in pockets'. It is also claimed that officers were carrying tasers

West Midlands police said they had made several arrests after descending on the scene and that some of their officers had been assaulted

Pictures from the scene show police cars blocking access to the area as a policeman is seen standing with a guard dog.

Shocking footage shows young women appearing to push each other as officers try to get control of the situation.

Flashing blue lights are also seen as a group of at least eight officers stands on the pavement outside in front of a large crowd.

One witness said that 'a young boy was crying on the floor with his mother' as a number of young people started fighting.

Rachael Allison said: 'The police told everyone to leave the cinema as they held Taser guns in their hands and started to bring in guard dogs.

'I spoke to a policeman who told me it is unclear whether the kids had weapons and also stated when kids fight they bring their group of friends.'

A group of at least eight police officers were pictured standing on the roadside at the cinema after police cars blocked off access to the venue

Groups were seen leaving the cinema complex which is understood to be closed

A number of police officers rushed to the area after being called at 5.30pm. There are also reports of machetes being wielded at the cinema

Another witness described it as 'one of the scariest moments of [her] life', as she queued to watch the new Frozen film with her daughter.

Choleigh McGuire said: 'Armed police come, Tasers come, all of the people that were fighting ran off into the cinema, hiding. I am shaking.'

A woman, who claims she was at the cinema with her sister and niece on social media, said she was evacuated by police with tasers and dogs.

'Horrendous being in that situation when it's just you but when you're with children, your family, absolutely terrifying', she said.

'Sickening to have to be evacuated by police with tasers and dogs when all you wanted to do was watch Frozen.'

Five police cars pictured next to Star Cinema in Birmingham this evening. It is understood that families and children had been there to see Frozen 2

Another woman told The Mirror: 'That's probably one of the scariest moments of my life. Me and my daughter were in a queue to watch frozen, loads of little kids there, all dressed up and everything, then these girls jumped on another girl and loads of these kids just started fighting.

'Armed police came with Tasers. All the people that were fighting run off into the cinema. There's about 15 to 20 police cars. I'm shaking.

'The police were very aggressive there was lots of little kids there.'

Twitter users have alleged that youths were scrapping over new gangster film Blue Story, which was being shown at the cinema.

Two police cars pictured blocking off the entrance to Star City. The complex has now been evacuated

A policeman pictured at the Star City this afternoon following reports of a group wielding machetes at the venue

West Midlands Police said in a statement: 'We were called just before 5.35pm to reports that a group of people with machetes had arrived at the cinema within the complex.

'A number of police officers have been assaulted and several arrests have been made.

'A dispersal order has been out in place giving officers the power to move on groups of people and arrest those who fail to leave.

'Officers remain at the scene and are liaising closely with management at the venue.'