A FIGHT involving 40 people in Malmesbury High Street after pubs closed on Christmas Eve, has sparked calls for the Pubwatch scheme to be given a kick-start.

Police were called when the punch- up started near the Kings Arms pub at around 12.20am on Christmas morning.

Officers said there were no serious injuries and the crowd dispersed quickly.

Malmesbury sergeant Gavin Williams said: "There were small pockets within the group who were fighting but they were not using weapons.

"There was no more trouble once we arrived and those people involved co-operated with police and four men were arrested.

"We are still investigating and expect more action to be taken soon. We are also asking any witnesses to come forward with information."

Kings Arms landlady Hilary Timms said there had been no trouble in the pub that day.

"It was after closing time when it all happened," she said.

"There were never any problems as they were leaving.

"We are responsible licensees. We took away all glasses at lunch time, people had to drink from plastic cups and nobody was allowed to drink outside or leave with bottles."

The police response to the fight was in line with the zero tolerance policy toward public order offences, said Sgt Williams.

The police would continue take action to prevent this sort of crime, talks with local publicans would take place soon to ensure the Pubwatch scheme was working effectively.

He said: "We will crack down on this sort of behaviour.

"If someone starts playing up they will be dealt with and we will continue to act positively.

"We hope to meet up with publicans very soon and we would like to get all pubs on board with Pubwatch."

The scheme, a telephone chain between pubs allowing landlords to be notified of bad behaviour in other establishments, was re-started a year a go after a lapse of several years.

Sgt Williams said he would like to see offenders who behaved badly banned from pubs.