BATTLE ZONE

And today the city's leading police officer appealed for public calm after the riots which brought chaos to Derby Road in St Mary's.

Chief Superintendent Graham Wyeth said a "semi-domestic'' incident involving two families sparked the shocking scenes which saw more than 100 people clash with police.

One police officer suffered slight injuries while eight cars were damaged, fences wrecked and walls demolished.

Mr Wyeth said a high profile police presence would remain in the Derby Road area for at least the next 24 hours in a bid to avert similar ugly scenes. He said: "Twenty-five police officers were sent to Derby Road around 8.25pm last night after we received numerous calls from local residents.

One policeman was assaulted and five people took themselves to Southampton General Hospital for treatment to minor injuries. ''The fighting lasted around 25 minutes before police were able to disperse a large crowd stretching for around 150 metres south of Derby Road at its junction Graham Road.

''We would like the local community to help our inquiries by visiting St Matthews's Community Hall in St Mary's Road, where officers will be taking statements.

''This was a fearsome, violent incident. There had been tension in the area but nothing had led us to believe that there would be a disturbance on this scale."

Meanwhile, stunned Derby Road residents were left clearing up this morning after the horiffic scenes of the previous night.

Zulfiqar Ali, 67, who has lived in Derby Road for ten years, said: "I looked out of my window and about eight or nine people began pushing my front wall and then they kicked it down. I was so frightened my thoughts were on protecting my wife and five children. I dare not step outside and just sat watching what was happening from my lounge window."

"I was attacked outside my home a year ago. I don't know why. However, this area is normally very friendly.

Zajid Anwar, 13, who has lived in the road for four years, sadi: "I was walking home about 8.30pm and bricks were flying around my head. I ran into my house, looked out the window and saw men hurling bricks at each other. There must have been more than 100 people out there. The police were patrolling the area but I did not see them fighting with anyone. I was very scared indeed."

Another resident said: "I got here late last night and there were police everywhere. The windscreen of my car had been completely smashed in.

"My wife said she could hear what was going on outside, so she locked her front door. This is such a big shock.''

Residents living next to the scene of the riot spoke of their terror this morning.

One woman said: "I heard all this noise about 8.30pm and didn't know what the hell was going on. There was lots of shouting but you couldn't hear what they were saying.

"I didn't want to go near the window because there were quite a few people standing outside. I could see some had great big sticks in their hands and they were going for people.

"I had never seen anything like this before.''

Another resident said: "You could hear everyone breaking car windows right outside, so we rang the police. We could see loads of people arguing with each other and there were lots of people screaming.

"I saw some people outside with glass in their hands and sticks as well. This is a big shock. We only moved here two weeks ago - we plan to move again now.

"It was all really horrible. We turned all the lights and the telly off and went upstairs and stayed up there.''

One man told the Echo: "I had a lot of banging outside, so I came to have a look. I could see people chucking bricks and some of them had baseballs bats as well. There must have been about 90 people when I came out and they were mostly in their 20s.

"I went across the road because my mum lives opposite us to check if she was all right. I was very worried about my kids as well because I was scared a brick might come though our window. The police came and things clamed down a little bit but people were still gathered together.

"A council van came down later and there were people picking up all the bricks and clearing everything away.''