TWO racegoers who attacked and kicked men outside a pub claimed 'local yobs' had started the fight.

Michael Richard Dowle, 22, and Gavin Hender, 25, had come from North Wales to the Chester Races and got in a scrap.

They both admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, and were both fined #100 with #50 costs.

Prosecutor Jackie Lamb told Chester magistrates: 'In the early hours of July 14 police were outside Brannigans in Foregate Street.

'They became aware of a group of men fighting about 50 yards from them outside the Wetherspoons pub.

'Officers could see a man lying on the floor, curled up in a ball. Dowle was kicking him violently all over his body.

'Police pulled him away and arrested him. They then saw two other men exchanging blows. They took hold of one of them ­ Hender. The other men involved then all ran away, including the one being kicked on the floor.

'Both defendants had been drinking,' added Mrs Lamb.

Chairman of the Bench, Susan Campbell, told the pair: 'This was appalling behaviour and cannot be tolerated in Chester.

'If you get into trouble again, then it will be really serious trouble for you!'

Speaking in his own defence Dowle, of Church Walks in Llandudno, said: 'I was assaulted before any of this even happened.

'It was local yobs who started it on the racecourse. Gavin tried to stop it, but we should not have fought back.'

And Hender, of Males-y-Rorsedd in Llandudno, admitted he had a previous conviction for a public order offence.