POLICE were called to a funeral wake at a Gwent club after a mass brawl broke out between 20 mourners.

Around a dozen officers were sent to the Twyn y Ffald Constitutional Club on Bedwellty Road, Cefn Fforest, after chairs, tables and music equipment were badly damaged during the fight on Friday night.

A witness described seeing tables being hurled across the lounge bar and glasses used as weapons.

The funeral is believed to have been for local man Nigel Turner, who is thought to have been in his seventies.

Three men from the same family, aged 50, 29, and 26, not believed to be related to the deceased, were arrested for being drunk and disorderly and on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Police said one of the men suffered a badly cut hand during the incident at 8.25pm.

The three men have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Mark Jones, from Cefn Fforest, who was in the club at the time, said: "People started arguing and it kicked off. They started fighting in the lounge and the juke box was smashed up.

He said officers arrived with CS spray and police dogs.

A horrified Mr Jones added: "It was really frightening seeing tables being thrown around the place."

A Gwent Ambulance Service spokeswoman said an ambulance crew were initially called to the club but stood down after police calmed the incident and made arrests.

No-one from the club was available for comment.