A jury has heard how a battle broke out between rival gangs when an armed mob descended on a Keighley street.

Gunshots were fired and cars rammed during the clashes two years ago, which left a trail of damage in the Parson Street area of the town.

On Wednesday, Mohammed Riasat, 42, went on trial at Bradford Crown Court accused of possessing a real or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a further allegation of violent disorder.

Riasat, of Saltburn Place, Heaton, Bradford, has denied both charges, but prosecutor Brian Hurst said there was direct and circumstantial evidence linking him to the events that night in August 2001.

Mr Hurst said the thrust of the prosecution case was that Riasat was one of a number of people who turned up "mob-handed" in Keighley that evening.

"A very large number of people turned up in cars, carrying firearms and other weapons, and proceeded to unleash all sorts of what might be described as local hell in the area," Mr Hurst told the jury.

He said cars were driven up and down roads, firearms were discharged and vehicles were being rammed.

Mr Hurst described the clashes as "an almighty battle" between a gang from Bradford and another gang from Keighley.

The jury watched a short video taken by police the next day, which showed damaged cars and some of the weapons left at the scene, including golf clubs and an iron bar.

Officers also recovered three home-made gun cartridges that the prosecution say had been fired from a weapon, which was specially adapted to use them.

Mr Hurst alleged that one of the cars used that night was a maroon Lexus owned by Riasat, which was seen reversing at speed along Parson Street and colliding with another vehicle.

It is part of the prosecution case that after firing some kind of weapon, Riasat was himself knocked over and badly hurt.

He later turned up at the Bradford Royal Infirmary with a broken wrist and ankle, but when he was questioned by police he claimed he had been knocked down after leaving the West End Bar, in Lumb Lane, Bradford.

A grey jumper worn by Riasat was taken away for forensic examination and Mr Hurst said tests revealed particles of firearm residue on the jumper.

Riasat told police that he had sold his car to someone back in February 2001 and he claimed to have borrowed the jumper from somebody at the pub.

The court heard that the Lexus had never been traced, but a panel from a vehicle of similar age and colour to Riasat's was recovered from the scene.

Zulfiqar Asif told the jury how he saw Riasat, who he knew as "Chalky", standing in Parson Street with what looked like a gun in his hand.

"I seen a spark ... a flash come out of it and heard a bang. That's when I was 100 per cent sure it was a firearm," said Mr Asif.

He described how he ran off along a snicket, but when he came back into Parson Street he saw Riasat get knocked over by a blue Vectra car.

He said the Lexus was driven towards Riasat and he climbed into the passenger side before it drove past the Vectra.

Mr Asif said he saw another flash come from the passenger side of the Lexus.

"I heard a bang. I believe the gun was fired again," he said.

When he next saw the Vectra it had crashed into some parked cars.

The trial continues.