A GANG of four men are alleged to have assaulted three people in late night attacks in Bridgwater.

At approximately 2am on Wednesday, April 12, a man was allegedly assaulted by four men by the One Stop on West Street.

Shortly afterwards police were called to an address in St Matthews Green to a report that another two men had been assaulted by four other men.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We believe the same four men were involved in both attacks.

"The men are described as black and were all wearing hooded tops.

"All three victims required hospital treatment for minor injuries.

"Two 26-year-old men arrested in connection with the incidents have been released under investigation."

Tash Aisthorpe, who works at the One Stop said she had heard it was a 'nasty incident'.

"We heard a fight started out the front, and then the gang took the man round the back of the store away from the CCTV cameras," she said.

"It is quite worrying, we don't often get things like this. We get a lot of drunks and a lot of people stink of weed when they come in.

"A lot of them are harmless but the odd one or two can be a bit intimidating.

Miss Aisthorpe said the police were in at the One Stop quite a lot due to the number of thefts in the store.

"That's why I am here security tagging the sandwiches!," she said. "A couple of weeks ago we had a lady come in and try and nab a load of wine, smashing one of the bottles on her way out. It was quite bad because it was around the time the kids come in after school. She was one of our regular troublemakers."

Miss Aisthorpe said despite the levels of crime she enjoyed her job and that there was a good sense of community in the West Street area.

One resident who lives in Southbourne House on St Matthews Green said she felt crime was increasing in the area.

"It is definitely getting worse, you do not feel safe at home. I keep my door locked at all times now.

"We do report things to the police. Recently we have youths jumping on the roof on the launderette, it is concern they will cause damage or hurt themselves."

Another St Matthews Green resident said it was normally a quiet area.

"I had not heard about the attack and I am quite shocked, I am sorry to hear about anything like that happening here. I have been here five years and you see the odd incident but nothing that is really worrying."

Anyone with information about the two assaults is asked to call 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5217080733.