Police are appealing for witnesses to a mass brawl in Otley that left two people requiring hospital treatment and resulted in five arrests.

Officers blocked off part of the town centre on Saturday night and called in a police helicopter after the trouble started at the Yeoman pub, on Gay Lane, just after 8.15pm.

The pub had been hosting a fundraising scooter rally and band night which had attracted members of scooter clubs from across the district and hundreds of bikes.

Police believe the fight started after a group of local youths, unconnected to the rally, entered the inn.

Inspector Richard Coldwell, of the Otley-based North West Outer Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It would appear that some young men have gone into the pub and there has been some sort of dispute that has escalated into violence.

“Several people were assaulted in the Yeoman, two of them quite seriously. They were taken to Leeds General Infirmary but were not detained.

“Five local men were arrested and are currently on bail pending further enquiries.

“We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who could assist us to please get in touch and share any information they may have with us.”

Ins Coldwell was also keen to stress that the police action taken was “standard procedure” for this kind of disorder – and that the fight was unrelated to Otley Carnival which took place on the same day.

He said: “It is important for local people to know that there was absolutely no connection between this incident and the carnival. It would have happened whether there was a carnival or not.

“The carnival is a properly organised community event and one that we support. Similarly the scooter rally was a bona fide, organised event.

“When you’re dealing with this type of incident it is common sense to block off the road because the last thing you want is people trying to drive through when it is ongoing.

“A police helicopter did attend but, again, that’s nothing too unusual. Having a helicopter present gives us aerial CCTV surveillance so we can get footage of what is happening.

“Having the helicopter overhead also means that if any of the suspected assailants are trying to make good their escape, for example through a back door or over a fence, that can be picked up.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call Otley Neighbour-hood Policing Team on 01274 471458 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.