Moment huge 50-man brawl breaks out after Bolton vs Wigan football match

Shocking scenes emerged on the streets of a Greater Manchester town moments after a football game came to an end. Police had already issued a warning ahead of yesterday's clash between Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.

Patrols were ramped up in the Westhoughton and Horwich areas, close to the Toughsheet Community Stadium. But in the wake of the derby clash, which saw Wigan thrash Bolton by four goals to nil, violence erupted in the centre of Westhoughton.

Four thousand Wigan fans had travelled to the game.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.

Video footage soon widely circulated on social media, showing chaos in the town, including on Market Street. Coun Arthur Price, who represents Westhoughton North on Bolton Council, was left reeling by the scenes.

"It's something we definitely don't want to see again," he told the Manchester Evening News. "It's just not acceptable behaviour, it has endangered everybody that's on Market Street.

"I've watched the video, there are innocent people involved in that. I saw one were a woman was against a wall trying to get past.

"I have to say the response that we got from the police was very good. They soon had it under control."

Police condemned the 'mindless violence' following the fight.

Greater Manchester Police said that about 4.30pm last night, Saturday 19 August 2023, they received calls regarding a large-scale disturbance on Market Street in Westhoughton, which is the main shopping street in the town.

A Section 34 Dispersal Order, under the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, was issued, to ensure the group - of up to 50 people - left the area. They cannot return to Westhoughton for 48 hours.

Paramedics from