ONE dinner lady was bitten and another struck with an umbrella during a brawl at the gates of an Oxford primary school.

The two women, great-grandmother June Cox and her colleague Amanda Jones, were among five people injured during the fight outside Bayards Hill Primary School, in Waynflete Road, Barton, on Tuesday morning.

Dozens of parents and pupils witnessed the fracas, which followed a year-long dispute between Ms Cox and her daughter Donna and Donna's neighbour Natasha Edmonds and her partner Gary Constant.

Ms Cox, 54, from Headington, was knocked to the floor by an umbrella and suffered a gash on the back of her head.

Donna, 36, from Humfrey Road, Barton, suffering bruising on her face and head and Ms Jones, 41, from Barton, was bitten on the arm.

She was given antibiotics.

Ms Edmonds, 32, also of Humfrey Road, suffered bruising to her head, arm and leg, and Mr Constant, 48, of Blackbird Leys, was left with a cut to his hand.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has been released on police bail.

The elder Ms Cox said: "It hurt.

"There was quite a lot of blood, it has ruined my coat, T-shirt and underwear.

"I've got a massive headache and I have been back to the doctors today.

"They were worried about my blood pressure. I would like to apologise to all the parents for the distress it caused their children - it was not my intention for this to happen."

Her daughter, a grandmother and mother-of-six, added: "I'm really upset about it. It's not the sort of place you want things like that to happen. What the children must have seen is unbelievable."

Ms Cox has been advised not to return to her job at the school until the police have concluded their investigation.

Headteacher Keith Ponsford met police to discuss the incident, but refused to comment on the matter.

Sgt Yak Teladia said police officers and PCSOs had been patrolling outside the school for a couple of months after becoming aware of the dispute.

He said he was aware of other minor incidents which had occurred as part of the dispute. Ms Edmonds and Mr Constant refused to comment.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called at 9.09am."

He said a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing ABH and had been bailed until July 2.

Police are appealing for witnesses. If you saw the incident call them on 08458 505505.