FOUR people charged with causing an affray at the Chatteris Christmas lights switch-on appeared in court this week. Magistrates watched CCTV footage of the incident involving Ernest Payne, 41, his wife Carina, 35, and two teenage boys. The fracas started

FOUR people charged with causing an affray at the Chatteris Christmas lights switch-on appeared in court this week.

Magistrates watched CCTV footage of the incident involving Ernest Payne, 41, his wife Carina, 35, and two teenage boys.

The fracas started when Carina Payne got into a fight with another woman. Payne was on top of the female and punching her in the face, said prosecutor Nicola Ebbs.

Ernest Payne held people away so the women could continue to fight, there was blood everywhere and children were crying and screaming.

After asking Ernest Payne to separate the women, Paul Millard was jumped on and punched. He fell to the floor and was kicked in the head.

"Mr Millard was acting as a good citizen, trying to stop the incident occurring," said Miss Ebbs. "He was trying to prevent something from happening, and was set upon by three people." Mr Millard needed four stitches to a head wound.

Off-duty policeman Paul Windas also intervened and suffered a blow to the back of the head.

Ernest Payne, and the boys aged 14 and 16 admitted assaulting Mr Millard and causing an affray. Carina Payne admitted affray.

Mitigating, Anita Waterman said Carina Payne had been encountering problems with the woman she fought. Ernest Payne "saw red" when Mr Millard intervened in the women's fight.

The boys were sent to youth court for sentencing. The adults are due to be sentenced on February 7.