One man ended up with a broken nose as the four lads and a girl took a shortcut home from a party through Worden Park.

The victims, aged between 17 and 19, were ambushed by the gang who attacked them near the play area of the local beauty spot, before the fighting spilled on to Parkgate Drive.

A friend arrived in his car to rescue the outnumbered group, but some of the drunken pack surrounded his vehicle throwing glass bottles at it.

A 25-year-old Leyland man, who didn't want to be named, said: "They were just set on for no reason, then they circled the car. I went out to help and managed to get them all away from the scene.

"They were very drunk and aggressive, it's all down to under-age drinking. You should be able to take a shortcut through your local park without it being a no-go zone."

One Parkgate Drive resident said there was a large 'mob' on the park at around 10pm and the following morning smashed vodka bottles were on the road: "Although I didn't see any incident, there was a trail of glass and cans the next day."

Sgt Neil Sladen said the details of the incident were sketchy, with 'semi-reluctant' witnesses, but he confirmed reports of a large group of youths drinking on the children's play area, and two lads being taken to hospital with minor injuries.

He said: "We patrol the park every weekend and seize any alcohol we find."