TWO men alleged to be the instigators of a massive street riot in Southampton have been cleared of causing violent disorder.

Abdul Safi and Zeeshan Beg were charged by police after a 100-man fight in March this year left parts of Derby Road in St Mary's unrecognisable.

However, following a four-day trial at the city's crown court, the jury of 12 took two and a half hours to return unanimous verdicts of not guilty on both men yesterday afternoon.

Numerous people were injured and thousands of pounds' worth of damage caused as Pakistani and Afghan youths battled each other in the street on March 26.

Walls were torn down so bricks could be hurled as missiles, and sticks studded with nails were used as the two sides fought each other until police officers arrived on the scene to break up the brawl.

The court heard how the incident allegedly started after insults and punches were exchanged the previous evening outside the Beg family home on Derby Road.

At the time police believed the fight had centred around 28-year-old Safi, an Afghan living in Acton in London, who had being dating Zeeshan Beg's niece, something which had upset the Beg family.

During the case the prosecution alleged that Safi had been so outraged by that fight he had returned the next day with scores of his friends intent on exacting revenge.

However, throughout the crown court proceedings Safi protested that he had been at the scene of the incident purely by accident and that it was he who had alerted the police to the riot.

Zeeshan Beg, 22, of Claremont Crescent in Millbrook, also denied the ringleader accusations saying he had only got involved after it became clear the gang were intent on attacking his family.

As the pair stood in the dock and heard the verdict, Safi smiled and Beg stood motionless.