TWO men were arrested after a skirmish at Snaresbrook Crown Court spilled out into Wanstead High Street.

It is understood the men were present at the sentencing for robbery at the court on Friday afternoon and were detained by police officers soon after near Snaresbrook Station.

Court manager Stuart Hill said: "It was one of those rare instances when we have had a disturbance.

"There was a case on in court six during the afternoon which involved the sentencing of seven men for robbery.

"There was a very packed gallery in that particular court room and at the end of that case there was some pushing and shoving and swearing.

"That was all over very quickly and the police were here at the time. If there were any arrests made they it was outside the court and I was not aware of anything."

A police spokeswoman said: "Disorder broke out in court leading to the arrest of two men nearby.

"An investigation is ongoing to identify further suspects concerned in the disorder. Uniformed officers from Ilford and Chingford attended the area to locate and arrest suspects."