SHOCKING footage shows feuding traveller families battering each other in an organised mass brawl.

       The bareknuckle fight erupted in a basketball court in Middleton, Greater Manchester, on July 27 this year.

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       A group of men gathered at an organised brawl after a 'long-running dispute' between two families Credit: YouTube 5

       The fight exploded on a basketball court in Middleton, Greater Manchester Credit: YouTube

       Manchester Crown Court heard the violence exploded after a "long-running dispute" between two families.

       Two men are seen trading blows as a large group gathered to watch the fight.

       Others join in the as the scrap sprawls across the court in broad daylight.

       Thomas Joyce, 44, is seen in a blue tank top in three-minute video, which was uploaded to YouTube.

       MASS BRAWL

       He is seen removing the top and punching a man at one point as others begin to fight.

       Towards the end of the video, a group of men kick a man who is on the ground in a horrifying assault.

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       The men swarm around the victim who is hit as he lays on the floor, although Joyce wasn’t involved in this attack.

       Joyce was fined ￡500 after pleading guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, Manchester Evening News reports.

       Prosecutor Brian Berlyne said: “It appears that it has been uploaded by various observers of a fight between two members of the external family, Joyce being one of the families.

       “Police have identified two external families in a long running dispute.

       Several people are involved in the violence, the defendant throws punches

       Prosecutor Brian Berlyne

       “This took place on a basketball court on Langley, in Middleton.

       “Thomas Joyce is identified as being one of the parties - you can see he is wearing a light blue vest and he takes it off during the fighting.

       “Several people are involved in the violence, the defendant throws punches, though he did not take part in the footage of the man who was being kicked whilst he lay on the ground.”

       No other men involved in the brawl have been arrested of prosecuted.

       It’s a bunch of men running around a basketball court throwing punches at each other

       Judge Hilary Manley

       Judge Hilary Manley said of the footage: “It’s a bunch of men running around a basketball court throwing punches at each other.”

       Joyce was said to have a number of previous convictions for violence, affray, public order offences and burglary.

       Daniel Travers, defending, said: “It’s an unpleasant video.

       "Clearly this sort of video should not take place - though they were willing parties.

       'ORGANISED VIOLENCE'

       “Mr Joyce played a relatively minor role and has been out of trouble for many years.

       “There have been some difficulties in the travelling community. He has been making efforts to try and calm matters down."

       Mr Travers said the police had approached Joyce, who "has some influence’" to help keep the communities calm.

       He added that the basketball court was in a private place, owned by the travelling community, but admitted the fight wasn't "lawful or acceptable".

       Sentencing, Judge Manley said: “You took part in some organised violence between two groups of people, you threw some punches.

       “It was an unedifying spectacle, really. At 44-years-old, you’re really too old to behave like this, you must surely have better things to do with your time.

       “You’re not setting a good example for the young men in your community.”

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       Thomas Joyce was fined ￡500 over the brawl Credit: MEN Media 5

       A large group of men had gathered for the fight Credit: YouTube 5

       Nobody else has been arrested over the brawl in Middleton, Greater Manchester Credit: YouTube

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