One shopkeeper contacted the Courier claiming there had been a fight in Market Place on October 19, the first night of the fair, and that a stabbing had caused the fair to be closed early the following night.

Others gave similar accounts, but none was willing to be named for fear of reprisals.

A Warwickshire police spokeman said that one arrest had been made in Market Place on October 19, with a man taken into custody at 8.58pm .

She added that there was another incident recorded in Market Place on Saturday at 9.45pm, in which police had separated two groups of people, but no further action was taken.

Warwick town clerk Derek Maudlin said he was aware of one incident of racial abuse in which youths had abused ride operators as "gypos", but this had stopped after people who were part of the Mop remonstrated with them.

Police are said to have assigned more officers to policing the fair this year, following complaints of violence in previous years.

Shopfronts were damaged on the first night of last year's Mop, amid allegations that gangs of youths were causing trouble. There were reports of widespread violence but only one arrest was made - a 15-year-old received a caution for breaking a shop window.

Town centre manager Adrian Field said he had not heard rumours concerning violence this year, but confirmed he was aware of problems with racial abuse.

He explained the rugby world cup final had led to "a quiet night" on Saturday and added: "The problems are with gangs of kids, not being a nuisance as such, but they might put people off coming in the evening."

The second weekend of festivities in Warwick's 'runaway' mop will take place today (Friday) and tomorrow.

See Mop Fair pictures p28-29