A 34-year-old Abingdon man, charged with assaulting a police officer during a brawl between white and Asian gangs, has been bailed by a court.

Thomas Birch was charged with the alleged offence in Aylesbury on Sunday night after police intervened in clashes involving more than 60 people.

He appeared before Aylesbury Magistrates' Court yesterday and was bailed until tomorrow, when he is due to appear in the same court.

Shots were reportedly fired in the air by an Asian with a handgun in Aylesbury, and bricks were hurled through the window of a house in which white youths were taking refuge.

Two other men from Oxfordshire were among 20 people arrested following the incident on the Southcourt estate.

A 35-year-old from Wantage was charged with assaulting a police officer and bailed to appear at Aylesbury Court tomorrow, while a 38-year-old man from Thame was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and released on police bail.

Officers in Oxfordshire have said they do not believe the incidents in Aylesbury and Oldham will spread into the county.

An Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "There is an excellent track record in race relations in Oxfordshire and there is no reason for people to be alarmed."