Four men who left a community "paralysed with fear" have been issued with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

Magistrates were told they were involved in attacks on innocent people and rival gangs.

They were referred to in court as the Rawson Street Gang.

The four thugs have now been banned from carrying cricket bats, baseball bats, golf clubs or iron bars. The interim Asbos also bar them from entering large parts of Farnworth and Moses Gate.

Tahir Afsar, aged 22, and his brother, Usman, aged 19, both of Rawson Street, Farnworth; Zulfiqar Ali Khan, aged 22, of Lorne Street, Moses Gate; and Navid Khan, aged 19, of Loxham Street, Moses Gate, were all issued with Asbos.

Mark Brady, who applied for the Asbos on behalf of Bolton Council, said: "The community is paralysed with fear and won't come forward for fear of reprisals."

"Most of these attacks have happened in public and with total disregard for the community. Intelligence suggests that the attack on April 13 was the result of nothing more than an insult."

In a final incident on April 15, up to 20 men, some with weapons, gathered in King Street, Farnworth, and police were called to break up the group.

After the Asbos were served to each of the four men, Supt David Flitcroft said: "We are aware that there is criminal activity in the Moses Gate and Farnworth areas and we want to send a message loud and clear that it will not be tolerated.

"We will continue to make the area as hostile an environment as possible for any criminals to operate in. We will use every tool we have to pursue these people intent on causing intimidation and fear for their local communities."

The four are also forbidden from being together in public, demonstrating or threatening violence towards anybody, threatening to damage property and using abusive or foul language in public.

The exclusion zones for the four men are the area bordered by Cross Street, Market Street, Bank Street and Queen Street, and the area bordered by Harper Green Road, Doe Hey Road, Lorne Street, Egerton Street, Bentinck Street and the playing fields at Harper Green School.

Anyone who sees any of the men behaving in a way that they think may breach their Asbo should call police on 0161 856 5822 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.