A 42-year-old man has been cleared of firing a gun during a pitched battle between rival gangs in a Keighley street two years ago.

Two men serving long prison sentences for conspiracy to murder security guard Qadir Ahmed gave evidence against Mohammed Riasat during his trial at Bradford Crown Court.

But a jury on Wednesday found him not guilty of possessing a real or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He was, however, convicted of violent disorder following the terrifying clashes in the Parson Street area of the town back in August 2001. The court heard how a mob, believed to be a rival gang from Bradford, had armed themselves with various weapons, including handguns and golf clubs, before setting off for Keighley in several cars.

Zulfiqar Asif and Amjad Ali Azam claimed to have seen Riasat firing a gun in the street before he was knocked down and badly injured by a car, but Riasat told the jury that he wasn't in Keighley that night and had been drinking at the West End Bar, in Bradford.

Giving evidence to the court, he claimed to have suffered his injuries when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he walked home.

Prosecutor Brian Hurst told the jury at the start of the 11-day trial that there had been "an almighty battle" that night with shots being fired and cars being rammed.

The jury was shown video footage of the trail of damage left by the clashes, and three home-made cartridge cases were found at the scene.

Riasat, of Saltburn Place, Heaton, Bradford, was remanded in custody by Judge James Stewart QC to await the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

But he said Riasat faced an inevitable prison sentence, even though his case was being adjourned.

No date was fixed for the sentence hearing, but it is expected to be in the first week of October.