THREE Hampshire men have been jailed for their part in a mass brawl on a day trip to the coast.

Two groups of 15 to 20 people traded kicks and punches and they threw road signs and bollards, a court heard.

The violent scenes were some of the worst officers had encountered in their careers.

Kirk Adams, 21, of Havendale, Southampton, Tom Kitcher, 19, of Mead Road, Pennington, Lymington, and Ronald Brenton, 21, of Pepys Avenue, Thornhill, Southampton were heading back to Weymouth train station after a day drinking when they became involved in the fight at about 6pm.

Prosecutor Audrey Archer, told Dorchester Crown Court: “Officers who attended the scene described what they encountered as the worst public order type incident they had come across in their careers due to the level of violence that was used by persons within the two groups.”

In mitigation barristers said the fight was not planned and was a “chance encounter” between the groups after they had been drinking.

Brenton, who was found guilty of violent disorder following an earlier trial, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison. Adams and Kitcher, who admitted the offence of violent disorder were also sentenced to 20 weeks in prison.

Luke Cox, 24, from Bournemouth was found guilty of violent disorder following an earlier trial, and was also jailed for 20 weeks.

Christopher Pope, 26, from Bournemouth, who admitted affray, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison while 20-year-old Daniel Robinson, also of Bournemouth, admitted an affray charge, and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for one year.