Sophie Higgs•Google The gang (top left) walked through Crewe after events at the William Stanier School

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

As many as 100 people in Crewe, Cheshire, were wandering the streets in large groups after reports of rape threats being made against school children. Police have put extra patrols in the town in a bid to calm tensions sparked by a fight at school. Parents have claimed their children had their hair pulled and were threatened with rape.

Many have taken to social media to claim that a large group of Eastern European students lashed out and made the threats at the Sir William Stanier Community School. School officials and police have flatly denied the accounts, saying that only six students were involved in the fight. Speaking to Express.co.uk, one parent said there were “a few” separate fights in the school’s playground.

Sophie Higgs The vigilantes (l) were in Crewe town centre on Friday, along with a beefed-up police presence (r)

The parent went onto claim her child was knocked to the ground and injured her head. It is understood many parents kept their children home from school last week after the rumours of the fight started to circulate around the school community. According to the school, six students were excluded while police confirmed one pupil - a 14-year-old girl - was arrested on suspicion of assault. Rumours of the brawl have spiralled out of control and stoked tensions in the town, which has a large Eastern European population.

Google Street View The disputed fight took place at the Sir William Stanier Community School in Crewe

Residents have been left unsure what to believe and are calling for authorities to reveal more details of what happened at the school on Wednesday February 3. Vigilantes began their marches over the following days, and on the night of Friday February 5 were filmed patrolling the town centre. Sophie Higgs, who saw the group, told Express.co.uk that “80 to 100” men were present, dressed in tracksuits, with covered faces and police following close behind. Miss Higgs, 18, who filmed the encounter from her car, said: “I would describe it as chaos. “They were not fighting at the time but they were all dressed intimidatingly; scarves over their face, hoodies up and generally storming around in an agitated way. “They were headed for Walker Street, or as it is known in Crewe as 'The Derby Docks', which is well-known by everyone as where the Slovakian teenagers and kids hang out.” Police say they moved the men on but made no arrests because nobody committed any crimes. An anonymous man told Express.co.uk there were people furious with the situation in Crewe and wanted to “sort it out”.

Sophie Higgs Footage shows the men walking the streets

Police have confirmed that a brawl did take place at the community school, rated “good” by Ofsted. They say it involved six students, at least one of whom is female. But police have said rumours of students screaming rape threats was nothing but speculation. A statement from Cheshire Police said: “Cheshire Police have been working with the community and Sir William Stanier School since a fight between six young people broke out at the school last week. “As part of an ongoing investigation officers have arrested one 14-year-old girl. “We are aware of rumours emanating from the initial fight at the school. “There were six young people involved in one incident, two young people sustained minor injuries along with a teacher. “Those involved are being dealt with by police and the school. “There were no weapons on the day of the incident and that it is incorrect that children are being threatened with sexual assault. "Anyone who is threatened should contact police.”

Students protest turns into a riot Wed, November 4, 2015 Students demonstration against tuition fees and an end to student debt in Westminster has gotten out of hand with Police ketteling protesters and the speculation that activists have infiltrated the march Play slideshow PA 1 of 18 Students during a protest calling for the abolition of tuition fees and an end to student debt in Westminster, London