Christmas market descends into chaos as violent brawl breaks out between travellers in front of stunned shoppers

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers responded to reports of a disturbance at 4.35pm on Sunday but the incident appeared to be over when they arrived.

Officers spoke to both men but "neither would disclose anything", the men left and no complaints were made.

During the confrontation, one of the men could be heard shouting "Get it up there son, who are you?" as he launched into the attack.

He threw multiple punches before his opponent grabbed hold of him, sending both men tumbling to the pavement.

Mr Joyce is a friend of former Prime Minister Liz Truss, and once posed with her in a video to promote his new line of whisky.

Mr McGinley claimed victory after the fight and said: "Dougie Joyce, you came tonight to the Christmas market and you're acting now a bit of a blackguard."

He said he had "not even a black eye" from the scrap. He added: "But Dougie Joyce, I knocked you out on your a** with two or three belts."

Claiming his own victory, Mr Joyce said: "The beating that I give Simey McGinley, and this is on my mommy's life, my sons' lives, my beautiful little girls' lives, he didn't know what day it was.

"The fella with two pigs eyes got smashed and knocked out and didn't know what day it was. Simey, I bet you didn't think Dougie Joyce could hit like that did you?!

"Simey, Simey, Simey, you're an embarrassment mate."

It isn’t the first bout of violence to hit a Christmas market in Britain this year.

On November 16, terrified families at Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland watched in disbelief as four masked youths, two armed with machetes, confronted a rival group in Old Market Square.

The clash unfolded just yards from the Council House, with children and parents forced to witness the alarming standoff.

Police were called at 6.15pm and rushed to the scene, searching several people nearby but the suspects had already fled.

No one was injured during the incident.

Seven people arrested in connection with the incident have been released on bail, with strict conditions preventing them from entering the city or wearing face coverings.

During patrols, officers have made further arrests for offences including drug possession, attempted robbery, being drunk and disorderly, and carrying a bladed weapon.

Assistant Chief Constable Suk Verma said: "Last week, I was clear that we will not tolerate people coming into the city to commit crime.

"Enough is enough. We cannot let the minority make the majority feel unsafe, and so we are taking a zero-tolerance approach to criminality.

"We have always had visibility on the Old Market Square but hope the additional high-visibility patrols deployed in the area and the surrounding streets will offer the public the reassurance they deserve."

Alongside police patrols, trained security teams are also stationed at the Winter Wonderland site with My Local Bobby officers from It’s in Nottingham carrying out foot patrols alongside Nottingham City Council’s Neighbourhood Support Officers.