Police are appealing for witnesses to a brutal attack in broad daylight which is thought to be linked to mounting gang rivalry in East Oxford.

The clash happened at the junction of James Street and Cowley Road, at about 6pm on Monday, in full view of people in the busy area.

About 15 people were thought to be involved and two teenage boys needed hospital treatment for facial injuries sustained in the attack.

Makeshift weapons, including broken chair legs and a screwdriver, were left strewn on the ground, near a pool of one of the victim's blood.

Chief Insp Jack Malhi, Oxford's deputy police commander, said he believed it was a "repeat incident".

He said: "There are some indications that this group of boys have assaulted somebody else prev- iously."

The attack followed a fight between three families in Magdalen Road in January, which left a shopkeeper needing eight stitches in a cut to his head.

There have now been a number of attacks thought to be linked to gang rivalry in the area, although it has not yet been confirmed Monday's incident is connected.

Mr Malhi said police patrolling the area had been briefed about the incident and asked to monitor tension between groups of young people.

He added: "We have identified the people who have been involved. They have been arrested and will be dealt with."

The two victims, aged 16 and 17, were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital and released the same evening after treatment.

Five teenagers were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, three 17-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old, all from Oxford. They were in custody at St Aldate's police station today.

A police spokesman said several weapons had been recovered from the scene.

Zuhaib Ellahi, 20, of James Street, saw one of the victims bleeding following the incident.

He said: "You see the occasional fight outside the pub every now and again, but nothing like that.

"I was shocked to think people could do that to each other - it's quite horrific and it does worry me."

His neighbour Rory Browne, 22, saw the final moments of the attack from his window. He said: "I saw two guys curled up and some other guy was just hitting one across the head. While I'm not so much scared for myself, it's still an awful thing to see on your own doorstep."

Mohammed Adil, who works at UK Direct Call, in Cowley Road, opposite the entrance to James Street, said: "This is Cowley Road now, it is very bad and it didn't used to be like this.

"All the time they're shouting at each other over there. Of course I'm worried, it's very dangerous for us, even as a business, and most of the customers are quite worried too."

Anyone with information should call Oxford CID on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.