Two gangs of teenagers clashed in Staplehurst after a social media spat, a court has heard.

The fight in the village’s High Street in February was arranged in a WhatsApp instant messaging chat group.

Three 16-year-old boys, all from Maidstone, appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court charged with affray.

Jag Takk, defending, told the court the groups met to "settle their differences" after comments were made on Facebook and Instagram.

One of the teenagers admitted punching two boys.

But Stacey Holland, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service would not be accepting the boy’s plea as the fight also involved a metal pole being wielded and boys being kicked on the floor.

The other two defendants denied the charge.

All three, who were part of the same gang, were released on conditional bail not to contact each other or the prosecution witnesses and to avoid Staplehurst.

The hearing was adjourned for case management at the same court on Wednesday, July 27.