A GANG war has left a community living in fear of violence.

And a 54-year-old father who said his three sons were involved in the 'turf war' in Nelson has told of his worries that someone will be murdered before the trouble ends.

Community leaders have backed the dad's call for the feuding gangs to call a truce - and for the police to enforce a crackdown.

They spoke out after a fight involving 20 men armed with power tools, knives and axes in Carr Road last Tuesday.

Other high-profile gang-related incidents in the town include the stabbing of a 34-year-old man outside the Hour Glass pub, Leeds Road in December and the knifing of a 19-year-old man in the chest and head outside Nelson Methodist Church, Hibson Road, in November.

The father-of-seven, who does not want to be identified for fear of reprisal attacks, said three of his sons were injured in the Carr Road brawl and that one stayed in hospital overnight from axe wounds to the back and arm.

The dad said the gang wars among Asian youths had been escalating for more than two years.

He said his three sons, aged 18, 21 and 27, were all involved, but that they refused to speak to him about what was happening or how their injuries came about.

The father said: "I am at the stage now where I fear for my sons' lives when they go out but there is nothing I can do because when I speak to the police about it they say they have no evidence to do anything.

"Most people round here won't say anything because they are scared of having their windows smashed or worse.

"But the evidence is there with teenagers who have no jobs driving round in cars worth £30,000 or more.

"I do care for my sons but I have had to ask them to leave my house because I have the other children to think about.

"My sons could have been killed. Something has to be done or things are just going to get worse.

"They have already told me that another fight is being planned.

"They just have no sense of law and order and they really do think they can get away with murder."

Nelson councillor Jamil Munir called for "prompt action" from police, and for those responsible to be put in jail.

He said: "I have lived here 36 years and never known anything as serious as this.

"The community does not deserve this.

"The elders do not give these young people any encouragement to act like this.

"I call upon the gangs to let bygones be bygones.

"Forget the past and let's look to the future - because there's plenty out there for these kids' futures."

Coun Nadeem Ahmed, the executive member for community safety for the town, said residents were concerned and frightened by the gang activity.

He said: "I live near where the fight took place and I have spoken to a lot of people who walked or drove past it.

"I think this fight had to have been pre-arranged for them all to turn up at the same time like that.

"I will be speaking to the community safety managers to see what we can do from our side. I know the police are taking a strong stance."

A police spokesman appealed for anyone with information about the incidents to come forward.

Witnesses to the latest incident, which happened at around 8.30pm on the Victoria Park car park, Carr Road, should call Crimestoppers free and confidentially on 0800 555 111, or Nelson CID on 01282 472644.