Bilston murder scene 'like the Wild West'

A high street where a Black Country father was murdered was today likened to the Wild West as a man wielded a Samurai sword, women were armed with bottles and a pitbull was running amok.

Witnesses told how victim Tom Berry, who had been at a wedding, was stabbed as he tried to calm down the violence in Bilston.

One bystander today described the "mayhem" that led to the 34-year-old and three others being stabbed as a "running battle" involving up to 30 people.

The chaos started outside the Spread Eagle pub in Lichfield Street and spilled into Wellington Street.

The witness, who asked not to be named, said: "It was like the Wild West."

One man was reportedly armed with a Samurai sword while another let his pit bull terrier off the leash.

The violence flared on Saturday night, around 20 minutes after a row in the street between two men who had been drinking inside the Spread Eagle.

A customer at the Olde White Rose in Lichfield Street, that was locked by staff after the trouble — which was not linked to the pub — broke out just before midnight, said: "There was all hell let loose in the street.

"One guy walked up clutching a Samurai sword and said calmly as he went past: 'Where's the trouble?'

"I could hardly believe my ears. There were women with young children out there. I saw at least one child in a pushchair.

"One minute it appeared to be a normal Saturday night street brawl and the next there were over 30 people running around in what seemed to be a pitched battle with shouts, yells and the sound of breaking glass.

"Then there were bodies everywhere with people screaming for an ambulance. It was mayhem."

Detectives have launched a murder inquiry.