A topless teenager wielded a knife during a fracas along a packed seafront where hundreds of people were gathered.

The fight erupted between a large group of youths - some carrying weapons - opposite Margate's main sands last summer.

Rhys Day, who was one of the youngsters involved in the disturbance, was captured on CCTV dressed in shorts and a balaclava while waving the three-inch blade and threatening others.

The 18-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the incident, had a folding pocket knife and brandished it at others during the brawl in front of crowds on the beach enjoying the sunny weather last August 12.

Following the disturbance, which involved a large group of teenagers, a 48-hour dispersal order was issued by police in the area including Margate High Street.

Day, of Link Road, Canvey Island, Essex, was later identified and admitted being in possession of a bladed article when he appeared before District Judge William Nelson at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on April 3.

Lucie Fish, prosecuting, said: “CCTV caught a disturbance in the street and it involved a number of males.

“He had a knife and was seen squaring up to a male with it and then concealing the knife in his shorts.

“He was arrested by police and the knife was found, he made no comment in interview.

“It was a large knife and the blade was in excess of three inches.”

The footage of the large fracas, which mainly happened in Marine Terrace opposite Margate main sands beach, was then shown to the judge along with a picture of the knife and in the footage another youth can clearly be seen with a knuckleduster in his hand.

Ms Fish added: “It was a busy day at the seaside and the brawl saw a large number of people squaring up to each other.”

Debbie Pizzey, defending, asked for an adjournment to allow a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Day to find out more about him.

She added: “His dad is here [in court] and there has been a lot of work going on [with Day].

“He’s no longer associating with that group and a lot of them were older than him and good progress is being made.”

Judge Nelson agreed and adjourned the case until May 8, when Day will be sentenced at the same court.

He added: “You could have killed someone or someone could have ended up killing you.”

Day has been granted bail until he learns his fate.

It is understood Day is so far the only person who has been charged with an offence in relation to the incident.