Six passengers hurt in brawl on board P&O ship Britannia

They suffered injuries including cuts and bruises after a brawl on a cruise ship reportedly involving a clown.

Three men and three women suffered cuts and bruises during the fight which happened aboard the P&O Britannia.

Two people, a 43-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman, both from Chigwell, Essex, have now been arrested on suspicion of assault and are currently in police custody.

The ship was travelling from Bergen in Norway to Southampton when the fight kicked off in the early hours of Friday morning.

Issues surrounding a passenger dressed as a clown are believed to have caused the massive brawl which left "blood everywhere".

• "There was blood everywhere" -  Police probe cruise ship brawl said to involve a clown 

According to a witness families fled from the ruckus with passengers using plates and furniture as weapons.

Paramedics were on the scene tending to injured staff who attempted to stop the brawl that erupted between passengers.

The fight broke out during a "patriotic" black-tie event on board the cruise ship on Thursday evening with "large amounts of alcohol being consumed", reporter Richard Gaisford said on Twitter.

One witness who was on the scene said passengers were upset when a guest dressed up as a clown despite a no fancy dress code.

The scuffle turned violent after guests began hitting each other with objects, with members of staff frantically trying to stop the chaos.

The ship reached its final leg of a week-long cruise to Norway's fjords and was travelling back to port when the incident happened

A police spokesperson said: "Officers are investigating following reports of a public order incident on-board P&Os Britannia.

"The incident happened during the early hours of Friday, July 26 while the ship was en-route to Southampton from Bergen.

"Six people; three men and three women were assaulted. A number of injuries were suffered including significant bruising and cuts.

"Investigations are ongoing.

"If anyone has any information, including phone footage of the incident, they should call Hampshire Constabulary on 101 quoting 44190262605.

"Two people, a 43-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman, both from Chigwell, Essex, have been arrested on suspicion of assault and are currently in police custody."

A P&O Cruises spokesman said: “Following an incident onboard Britannia on Thursday evening we can confirm that all guests have now disembarked and the matter is now in the hands of the local police. We do not tolerate disruptive behaviour”

• "There was blood everywhere" -  Police probe cruise ship brawl said to involve a clown