Silent Night? Not with family feud and street fights!

While the majority of residents were enjoying a traditional festive occasion, a family party ended in a "huge" domestic fight in which a man suffering severe cuts had to be physically restrained by police before he could be taken to hospital. Thieves were at work in shops, cars were attacked in half a dozen streets and a running fight extended over 50 minutes in the town centre.

A man bleeding badly from cuts to the hand and arm had to be held by police using specialist belt restraint equipment before he could be taken to the Conquest Hospital for treatment on Boxing Day.

Police had been called to a family fight at Davis Close, Sidley, in which windows were broken. A pregnant woman was also treated for an injury.

Sergeant Dave Costigan said police were called at 8.55pm to what he described as a "huge" domestic dispute.

"The man s arms were cut to ribbons but he had to be restrained before he could be taken to hospital."

r A running fight extending over 50 minutes and spilling into three town centre streets was contained by police in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Sergeant Costigan said the incident began at 12.45am with a report of a "problem customer" at the Castle hotel.

"There was fighting in Town Hall Square with several males on to one.

"It appears that the incident began when someone tried to take someone else s jacket."

Police had a report of a disturbance in Sackville Road and fighting continuing in Western Road. A man had been threatened with a knife.

Sergeant Costigan said: "In the course of this someone gets punched in the face and has a cheek bone broken plus bruising and swelling.

"The whole thing ends at 1.36am - 50 minutes after it began. All parties were videoed on the CCTV system and some of the individuals spoken to at the scene. Inquiries are continuing."

r Residents across a swathe of the town woke on Boxing Day to find they d had an unwelcome visitor. Three cars were broken into in Church Vale Road by smashing rear quarter lights. Property was left scattered over the pavement.

Similar attacks were reported in Barrack Road, Silvester Road where a stereo was taken, Crowmere Avenue, St James Avenue and Wrestwood Road.

r LITTLE Common s Christmas tree on the village roundabout was vandalised. Emergency repairs were carried out after the top third of the tree was snapped off and the lights put out during Christmas Day..