THREE community 'elders' have all been cleared of a midnight iron bar attack on a taxi driver over a family dispute.

Azmat Hussain, 56, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson; Shoukat Hussain, 50, of Chapel Street, Colne, and Mohammed Tafseer, 42, of Lancaster Gate, Nelson, were all found not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm and having an offensive weapon after a trial at Burnley Crown Court.

Aftab Shoukat, 24, of Chapel Street, Colne, earlier admitted assault and weapon charges and his case was set to be heard today.

The three older men, who all denied the allegations, were discharged from the dock by Judge Beverley Lunt. The jury had heard claims by alleged victim Abdul Majid that he was attacked with two iron bars and kicked and punched after four family members turned up at his cab office on Leeds Road, Nelson, in March.

Mr Majid was said to have been having marriage problems which Shoukat had got mixed up in and made his business.

Defence counsel told the court the three older defendants had gone to try and sort the matter out and had not been able to control Shoukat, who was fiery, violent and excitable.

When trouble started and Shoukat was said to have started fighting with Mr Majid, the three older men --described in court as 'elders' -- had tried to be peacemakers.