Parents described their horror at the New York-style' gang violence on Barnet's streets this week following a brawl involving up to 200 youths armed with knives, baseball bats and hammers outside Friern Barnet Town Hall on Friday afternoon.

The riot, which took place just as schools were closing for the week, left one teenager in hospital and a handful arrested or given fines.

Police have confirmed they will be stepping up patrols of the surrounding schools and drafting in staff who work in a specialist schools unit to ensure there is no repeat of the violent clash.

Teenagers as well as older youths were involved in Friday's brawl, and Barnet local education authority (LEA) is currently investigating whether students from the borough's schools were involved. It is understood that none of those stopped by police were students at Friern Barnet School, in Hemington Avenue, Friern Barnet, or Finchley Catholic High School, in Woodhouse Lane, North Finchley, but the involvement of pupils from Christ Church CE School, in Hilton Avenue, North Finchley, has yet to be ruled out.

The father of a pupil at Finchley Catholic High School said his son believed pupils at his school had been involved.

"My reaction was sheer shock and horror all of the parents are shocked that children at school age would be involved in a brawl with knives and baseball bats," he said.

"This is something you think would happen between New York gangs. It is a real worry for parents.

"My son was not involved he comes home after school. But with the peer pressure, if they start picking on him, you can just never be sure."

Scores of police officers arrived at the junction of Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet Road at 3.45pm on Friday to break up the brawl.

A hammer was recovered from the scene, and eye witnesses reported seeing baseball bats. Police estimate that 60 youths were involved in the fracas, although by-standers placed the number at closer to 200.

u Julian Tenorio Quintero, 24, unemployed, of Kenton Road, Harrow, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon. A 15-year-old boy is accused of threatening behaviour, and will appear in Barnet Youth Court on Friday.

A 17-year-old boy was given a fixed penalty notice for disorderly conduct, a 16-year-old boy was given a final warning for actual bodily harm, and a 15-year-old boy was reprimanded for threatening behaviour.