One man needed stitches after his neck and back were slashed as they fell through Boots' window in King Street.

Yesterday (Tuesday) manager Ian Wadsworth said police were still trying to stop the fight when a staff member arrived to clear up.

"It was still going on when they arrived and we heard one guy needed 22 stitches," he said.

"There was a lot of blood."

Witnesses said more than 50 people were in the street after an argument spilled out of a town centre bar. Windows were smashed at several other premises and yesterday a taxi driver said no one had been safe.

"I was giving some restaurant staff a lift home before it had all really kicked off and a man came up to the taxi covered in blood and was swearing at us," he said.

"At times you couldn't get a car down the street because there were so many people standing around."

Police received calls from several passers-by at 1am, but yesterday one claimed a patrol van had earlier driven past as the trouble flared.

Nerys Mooney said guests at the Belle Epoque had been asked to wait inside until the disturbance had quietened down.

"The whole atmosphere in the street was bad that night and you could just sense that something was going to happen," she said.

"There were bottles lying in the street and kids stood around. We had to ask people to wait before they left, but what kind of an impression does that give?"

Last night three men, bailed in connection with the incident, were due to face further questioning.

But police were again criticised for not responding quickly enough.

It is believed it took more than 10 minutes for officers to arrive and they were allegedly drafted in off the motorway. As the Guardian went to press last night the phone at Knutsford Police Station was constantly engaged and a press officer was unable to confirm the reports.

But Mrs Mooney said she was now feared driving home on certain nights of the week. "I have to think about what night it is because on Thursday, Friday and Saturday I won't go up King Street to Canute Square because I don't feel safe," she said.

"It has got worse and I wouldn't walk to the end of the street now."