A LONG-running rift between a father and son ended in a family punch-up on the side of a busy Basingstoke road.

Magistrates heard how things came to a head when trouble flared between Kenneth Reeves and his son David on the A340 Aldermaston Road on April 24 last year.

Reeves, of Cornish Close, South Ham, Basingstoke, told police he became angry when his son made a gesture to him as they were driving in separate cars.

He followed his son's vehicle, causing him to pull over by the side of the road.

David Hyde, prosecuting, read out parts of a statement made by David Reeves, which described how he could see his 54-year-old father had "totally lost his temper".

He added that he felt scared for his own safety.

When both of them were out of their vehicles, David Reeves said his father - who he claims he always worries about meeting on his journeys around Basingstoke - came forward and punched him, causing him to hit back in self-defence.

While the two men were in a tussle by the side of the road, Reeves other son John arrived at the scene and also began fighting with his father.

The only person to be significantly harmed was Kenneth Reeves, who suffered an injury to the bridge of his nose, a two-inch bruise on his chest, a swollen right arm and pains in his back.

In a statement made to the police, Reeves admitted he followed David's car and said his intention was to catch up with him and "give him a good hiding".

He said he did not know who it was that hit who first.

Tim Pattinson, defending, said the dispute related to the death of Reeves' wife in April 1998 who had been ill for sometime after suffering from a stroke.

Mr Pattinson explained his client had been under serious emotional problems and said: "He has had to cope with a distressing background that perhaps led him to behave in the way he did in April of last year."

Reeves was set to appear at Basingstoke magistrates for a trial but changed his plea at the last minute, pleading guilty to assaulting his son David.

Reeves, who the court heard has been receiving psychiatric help for about two years, suffers from depression and takes medicine to calm his nerves, was given a 12-month conditional discharge order and was ordered to pay £55 costs.