A man has been jailed after violence exploded between two groups of gardeners on a quiet residential street.

Pitch forks and hammers were used in front of stunned residents when the gangs, from Oldham and Manchester clashed on a smart cul-de-sac in Poulton, near Blackpool.

Wayne Langley, 29, was locked up for two years at Preston Crown Court.

Langley, of Kenyon Lane, Middleton, had been accused of having an affair with the wife of one of two men who turned up on Riversway on April 3 to do some work at the same time he and his crew were selling compost door-to-door.

When both groups spotted each other Langley got out of a van and armed himself with a pitch fork, the court heard.

Jon Close, prosecuting, said Andrew Pollitt, who was with Langley, smashed two windows on a vehicle belonging to brothers Paul Smith, 49 and Keith Smith, 53. The same defendant was also accused of hitting Paul Smith over the head with a hammer. Seeing his brother lying injured, Keith Smith ran at two of the defendants.

He ended up raising an arm across his face and was stabbed in the upper arm. Andrew Pollitt then allegedly struck him with a hammer.

Keith Smith approached Langley and was said to have been stabbed in the chest with a pitch fork.

Mr Close told the court: “The Crown say Wayne Langley and Andrew Pollitt were armed with weapons and caused injury.

“It is difficult to say which they precisely caused.”

The defendants were arrested after their vehicle was spotted on the hard shoulder of the M6 travelling south, leaving their victims writhing on the pavement.

Robin Kitching, defending Langley, said there had been a chance meeting between the two groups of men.

“His intention was to have a verbal confrontation.

“There have been incidents of damage in the past and shouting in the street,” he said.

Sentencing on Andrew Pollitt, of Park View, Oldham, was adjourned until January for more information about a previous conviction.

Two other men were also sentenced for their parts in the incident. Arthur Pollitt, 54, of Eaves Lane, Oldham, was said to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He was given a 15 month sentence, suspended for two years, with 240 hours unpaid work.

Samuel Pollitt, 27, of Huntingdon Avenue, Oldham, was also said to have played a lesser role.

He was given 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.

All four men pleaded guilty to affray.

The judge, Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC, said “It is almost impossible to imagine a more serious offence of affray.”