Several people were hurt and 17 were arrested when violence erupted in a North Yorkshire county town restaurant.

Fighting broke out at the Malton Spice Indian in Castlegate, Malton, early yesterday.

Malton police were unable to confirm rumours that the fracas was sparked by a group of men arguing about football.

But Inspector Kath Lord said the men involved in the incident were local and known to one another.

Inspector Lord said officers were called at 1am. "When we arrived, several people had been injured and the restaurant had been badly damaged," she said.

"Some of those arrested were taken to Malton Hospital under custody to have their injuries checked out, but no one was seriously hurt.

"Several chairs in the restaurant were broken and the place was in quite a mess."

Inspector Lord said the 17 who were arrested were all interviewed and bailed yesterday.

"The fighting broke out either between one big group or two smaller groups of people in their 20s," she said.

"It was fortunate no one was seriously injured in the incident.

"Because there were so many people involved, it took a long time to sort the mess out; the people arrested had to be taken to different stations and it took a long time for the interviews to be carried out."

None of those arrested or hurt in the fracas was among the restaurant staff, said Insp Lord.

Abu Luhful, the owner of the restaurant, which opened in May last year, was unavailable for comment today.

Staff at Malton Spice were said to have worked throughout Sunday to repair damage and to get the restaurant back in operation.

A police spokesman said today no one had yet been charged in connection with the incident.

Updated: 11:58 Monday, January 15, 2001