A special constable feared for his life when youths at a disturbance threatened to kill officers, a court was told today.

Part-time officer Anthony Collingbourne told Hove Crown Court that bottles, stones and eggs were thrown at police at the disturbance in Whitehawk Way, Brighton, last April.

He said he and fellow officers arrived to see a group of 30 to 40 youths. He said: "My impression was the youths were drinking and being hostile. I feared for my safety."

He said the officers at the scene tried to calm the youths down. Bottles had been thrown from the west side of the street and a colleague arrested one youth.

He said: "Others started running up to us saying they were going to kill us. I took the threats seriously."

Ten youths, all from the Whitehawk estate, including five juveniles who cannot be named, are charged with violent disorder.

Darren Larbey, 22, of Findon Road; Ricky Rider, 18, of Haybourne Road; Leon Page, 18, of Plaistow Close; Asa McBride, 18, of Haybourne Close and Lee Gumbrill, 18, of Swallow Court, are all charged with one count of violent disorder on April 28.

The five juveniles are also accused of violent disorder. All have denied the charge.

The case continues.