A THIRTY-man riot erupted in a quiet Worcestershire village when two groups of immigrant farm labourers armed with shears and hoes clashed.

The skirmish broke out at 9.30am yesterday as around 200 onion pickers began work in a field near Kempsey Common.

A second, smaller group of labourers is believed to have arrived, sparking the fight, during which agricultural equipment was grabbed and used as weapons.

Eight police cars and three riot vans raced to the scene

and 14 men were arrested, then bailed while enquiries continue.

Three others were taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, two for precautionary checks and one other with knife wounds.

"Two different groups of immigrant workers were fighting in the field, but we don't yet know why," said Inspector Sean Kent, of Worcester police.

"The incident was under control by 10am."

He added that three men were being investigated for separate immigration offences.

Paul Hartland, joint owner of Hartland garden centre, said it was the first such incident in Kempsey.

"I heard a lot of shouting and the next thing was loads of police cars and vans," he said.

"There has never been any problem before and usually the workers are as good as gold."

Sue Cullis, of Kempsey's The Original Stores newsagent, agreed it was a one-off.

"You don't really expect it in Kempsey and it's never been a problem before," she said. "But the police reacted very quickly and it's nice to know they deal with things so fast."

The onion pickers were employees of Simms & Wood - an agricultural firm based in Chapel Lane, Wyre Piddle - however the identity of the second group remains a mystery.

"Some people who weren't employed by us turned up and started causing trouble," said a director, who didn't wish to be named.

Police said the men appeared to be 'of Asian origin' but the nationalities were unknown.