GANG warfare erupted when three Acomb teenagers grabbed weapons and crossed the River Ouse to "sort out" youths in Clifton.

A terrified 15-year-old girl had an air pistol pointed at her head as they searched for the "Clifton lads" only days after Crichton Avenue had been hit by a mini-riot. But the drunken trio fled when up to 20 Clifton youths answered a cry for help on a mobile phone. One of the Acomb teenagers was badly stabbed by an unknown assailant as he tried to escape.

York Youth Court took tough action against the three, locking up two of the Acomb youths to "protect the public" and handing down a history-making punishment to curb the third.

The 16-year-old gun boy was given an eight-month detention and training order after admitting possessing an air pistol with intent to make the girl fear unlawful violence.

His 18-year-old accomplice was jailed for five months after admitting carrying a partially empty vodka bottle as an offensive weapon.

The teenagers, both persistent young offenders, had admitted at least three other offences each on different days in west York.

The third teenager, also 16, who admitted affray, was barred from Clifton for three months in one of the first orders to be made in England under a new law to curb youth crime that only came into effect last Thursday.

The court heard that he had been the one who persuaded the others to cross the river to sort out the Clifton lads, and he had carried a two-and-a-half foot long stick as a weapon during the incident. But he had held back when violence erupted and was stabbed.

The three-month Action Plan imposed by youth justices also included 12 hours at an attendance centre and a drink management course.

For the gun boy, Mark Thompson said the 15-year-old girl who had a gun pointed at her, and an accompanying girl, were not simply innocent people. He suggested they were perhaps partly responsible for the problems in Clifton.

Damien Morrison, for the 18-year-old, said: "Both of these two ladies are well known to the courts."

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed after the hearing that the 15-year-old girl had no convictions.

Both solicitors said their clients had drink problems and regretted their actions.

Mr Thompson said the gun boy, a gifted footballer, could lose the chance of a professional sports career if he was locked up. He had not intended violence with the gun.

Mr Morrison said the 15 to 20 Clifton youths were quite intent on taking their own action.

For the 16-year-old stab victim, Sandra Keen said he was studying hard and had a future mapped out.