Two men were arrested for assaulting police officers in Barking this afternoon, after fighting broke out between a group armed with knives.

Police were called to the junction of Dereham Road and Woodbridge Road at 3.25pm and tried to arrest members of the group, but two officers – one male and one female – were assaulted in the process.

They received minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.

Two males were arrested for assault on police, affray and possession of an offensive weapon and remain in custody at an east London police station.

Enquiries are continuing.

Tony Richards, 79, of Wilmington Gardens, was prevented from driving down Woodbridge Road by the amount of police vehicles.

“There were police all over the place,” he said. “Someone told me that some youths had turned up with knives.

“I could see the police officers were searching in rubbish skips and bins for something.

“I would have said there were between a dozen and 15 police vehicles out there.”

Did you see what happened? Email mark.shales@archant.co.uk or call 020 8477 3824.