Six men accused of being involved in a driveway brawl between neighbouring families in which a man was stabbed appeared in court to stand trial today.

Ashley Jeeves, 22, Adam Jeeves, 21, Dean Hays, 47, Michael Hays, 18, and Sean Hays, 21, all of London Road, Ewell, and Richard Roll, 37, of Esher, appeared at Guildford Crown Court, charged with affray.

Michael Hays also stood charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The men, described as "former friends" by their lawyers, ended up in court after a fight, believed to be over a woman, broke out between the Hays family and the Jeeves family which spilled out into the street in London Road, Ewell, in the early hours of April 7.

A member of the Jeeves family, Peter Jeeves, was stabbed in the chest during the brawl.

At today’s hearing, Graham Smith, prosecuting, said he would not be offering any evidence against Mr Roll or Sean Hays, who were both released from the dock with no other charges pending against them.

But after lunch, the charges against three of the four remaining defendants were amended and they all then pleaded guilty – removing the need for a trial.

Adam Jeeves pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour - a lesser offence to affray.

Ashley Jeeves pleaded guilty to affray, while Dean Hays pleaded guilty to a new charge of assaulting Peter Jeeves.

Michael Hays pleaded guilty to wounding Peter Jeeves.

Mr Smith said Ashley Jeeves had been the instigator of the incident and took his brother Adam to the Hays' residence "with an intention to have words with Michael Hays".

He said: "Both were kicking and shouting threats through the door."

The court heard how Michael Hays responded by running out of his house with a knife.

The six men appeared in the dock together before a packed courtoom which saw seven barristers making representations to Judge Michael Addison.

The Jeeves brothers appeared in the dock clean-shaven dressed in white shirts and black trousers.  Dean Hays had a shaven head and wore a white polo shirt and dark trousers. Michael Hays wore a shirt and black trousers.

The four remaining defendants are on bail and are due to return to Guildford Crown Court in January for sentencing.