A GROUP accused of brawling at the lakeside Brasserie in South Cerney have appeared before Gloucester crown court.

Three men admitted affray with one also pleaded guilty to having a baton as an offensive weapon during the skirmish on January 15.

A fourth defendant, 22-year-old Scott Curtis of Milling Close, Ashton Keynes, denied affray and having a tyre wrench as an offensive weapon. He was bailed for trial at a date to be fixed.

The three who pleaded guilty to their involvement were all bailed for pre-sentence reports on Nov 1.

They are Thomas Simpson, 21, of Milling Close, Ashton Keynes, Thomas Wright, 23, of Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, and a 17-year-old Cirencester youth who cannot be named.

Giles Nelson, prosecuting, told Gloucester crown court that the case involved a 'showdown' in the brasserie bar between two defendants on one side and two on the other.

He estimated the trial of Curtis will last only a couple of days.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC asked "There has been a bit of a feud here, hasn't there?"

Steve Young, defending Simpson, said "There has, and it has gone on for some time."

He said all four defendants had been on bail without any conditions since their arrest and there had been no problems.

But Judge Tabor said it was 'amazing' that magistrates had not imposed a bail condition barring the defendants from any contact with each other and he imposed one from today.