Dispersal orders were in place across Rawtenstall and Burnley last night (April 4) as details of a pre-arranged fight emerged.

In Rawtenstall, officers received information that there would be a fight between “a significant number of young people” in the town centre.

A dispersal order was put in place to prevent disorder, which ran until 11pm.

The order covered all of the town centre, bound by New Church Road to the north and Bocholt Way to the south (including the areas to the side of Bocholt Way). The area also included Tesco, Asda and the retail park to the west of Rawtenstall town centre.

Information was also received that there would be a pre-arranged fight in Burnley town centre.

There have been large gatherings of youths in the town centre for the past two evenings but the fight has yet to take place.

There have been flare-ups of anti-social behaviour in the town centre as a result and this is having a significant impact on members of the public who are in the town centre for legitimate reasons.

The order was in place between 3pm and 11pm on Thursday.

The area covered by the order is shown in the map and incorporates all of Burnley town centre as bound by Grimshaw Street, Hargreaves Street, Hammerton Street, Curzon Street, Active Way, Church Street and Centenary Way.

A Rossendale police spokesperson said: “We have received information to suggest that there are plans for a pre-arranged fight involving a significant number of young people in Rawtenstall town centre this evening.

“We are doing everything in our power to stop that from happening and keep the public safe. With that in mind, a Section 34 dispersal order has been put in place to prevent disorder and allow other members of the community to enjoy the town centre without any issue.

“The order runs until 11pm tonight (Thursday).

“The area covered by the order is shown in the map and incorporates all of Rawtenstall town centre bound by New Church Road to the north and Bocholt Way to the south ( including the areas to the side of Bocholt way). The area also includes Tesco, Asda and the retail park to the west of Rawtenstall town centre.”

A Burnley police spokesperson said: "Information has been received that there will be a pre-arranged fight in Burnley town centre.

"There have been large gatherings of youths in the town centre for the past two evenings however the fight has yet to take place.

"There have been flare ups of anti-social-behaviour in the town centre as a result and this is having a significant impact on members of the public who are in the town centre for legitimate reasons.

"As such a Section 34 Dispersal Order has been authorised to prevent disorder and allow other members of the community to enjoy the town centre without any issue.

"The order will remain in place between 3pm and 11pm today.

"The community are very upset by the recent increase in anti-social-behaviour and this has caused disruption to the use of the town centre by other members of the public.

"The rights of the youths to assemble must be balanced against the rights of the community to enjoy their local area with their families.

"The area covered by the order incorporates all of Burnley town centre as bound by Grimshaw Street, Hargreaves Street, Hammerton Street, Curzon Street, Active Way, Church Street and Centenary Way."