AN entire police night shift stormed a house to tackle two brothers armed with a pickaxe and another weapon during trouble on a York housing estate, a court heard.

Officers had already used CS gas on David Raymond Powell, 20, and Lee James Powell, in an unsuccessful effort to subdue them during the disturbance in the Chapelfields area, prosecution barrister Nicholas Worsley told York Crown Court.

Mr Worsley said that when reinforcements were called to quell the trouble, a total of 25 police stormed the Powells' house.

Both brothers, from Chapelfields Road, Acomb, deny affray, but Mr Worsley alleged: "These two were spoiling for a fight. They were aggressive."

He claimed that there were a number of incidents on the Chapelfields estate late on May 13 involving youths and vandalism that disturbed most of the people living there.

Just after midnight, Lee Robinson was returning home when he saw police dealing with an incident involving a white Fiesta on the kerb that had earlier been parked on the Powells' driveway.

Mr Worsley claimed that when Lee Powell ran towards him, pursued by police, Mr Robinson tried to help the officers by rugby-tackling him to the ground. David Powell came out of his nearby house and both brothers went back to their home.

As Mr Robinson and a plain-clothes policeman approached the Powell house, the brothers charged out swinging a pickaxe and something described by eyewitnesses as a pool cue or garden spade.

Despite officers warning them they were police and telling the brothers to get back into the house, one brother swung the pickaxe into the ground near Mr Robinson, alleged Mr Worsley.

Police used CS gas on the brothers, but they continued their aggressive behaviour. Police drew their batons and the pair retreated into their home.

"They (police) summoned the entire night shift, and 25 officers went in with shield teams," alleged Mr Worsley.

"They went through the property, but by the time they conducted the search, the two defendants had made their departure."

Other people were arrested that night in connection with the car incident and the two brothers were arrested at home early on May 15.

In interview, they said nothing, Mr Worsley told the court. Their defence is believed to be that they thought their home was under attack and they did not know police officers were involved.

The trial continues.

Updated: 10:03 Tuesday, November 16, 2004