VIOLENCE flared on Teignmouth seafront last night, with as many as 30 youths involved.

Police were called to The Den to break up fights between rival gangs of males and females.

Five teenagers were later arrested in connection with the disturbances which kicked off just before 7.30pm.

One of those detained – a 15-year-old lad from Dawlish – received a caution for a breach of the peace.

The other four were ‘de-arrested’ after being taken home by police.

Accounts from witnesses suggested ‘a bunch of silly little boys and girls’ were behind the fracas which included the alleged use of knives.

The culprits were said to be ‘behaving like animals.’

A police spokesman said no weapons were retrieved in the wake of the public disorder, although one lad was spoken to about alleged possession of a bladed article.

Villains of the piece, in hoodies, were said to be aged between 15 and 17 with some of them believed to have arrived by train from Newton Abbot.

The police spokesman said reports of the incidents put the numbers caught up in the bust-ups at between 20 and 30.

No one had been charged in connection with the incidents which centred around the bowling green, Pavilions and the pier.

* Just a few hours later police were called to Regent Street in the resort to tackle a disturbance involving six people, two of them allegedly fighting.

A police spokesman said no arrests were made after officers attended just before 5am today.

The incident appeared to be a domestic matter relating to a dispute about keys to a flat.