Three people have been arrested following a mass brawl involving as many as 200 teenagers outside a Tube station in east London. The fighting began after a two girls exchanged blows over a boy, according to reports.

Photographs and video emerged on social media of the disorder that occurred outside Walthamstow Central Tube station on 6 October. Around 100 police officers were dispersed to the area following the large-scale fight involving mostly girls. However, there were no reports of any serious injuries. One witness said he saw around 15 men at one stage fighting in Hoe Street, while smaller groups of teenage girls fought nearby.

Samee Ullah, one of the co-owners of Director's Cut in the high street, told the Waltham Forest Guardian: "I looked out and I saw hundreds of kids shouting and screaming, they were coming from the Hoe Street end.

"It looked like someone had gone into Nandos and they were waiting for them to come out. They brought the whole street to a standstill. We asked some of them and they said it was 'college fights'. To be honest, people have been talking about riots but it wasn't exactly that. There was a mix of kids – all ethnicities – and they weren't all being aggressive."

The Metropolitan Police said it managed to disperse the crowd around three hours after the fighting started. Three people were also arrested following the incident − one for possession of an offensive weapon and two for affray.

A spokesperson added: "Shortly after 5pm, police were called to reports of a large group of youths causing a disturbance in the Hoe Street/Station Approach area of Walthamstow. The group, approximately 200, aged in their late teens, were dispersed by around 8.45pm. Officers currently remain in the area to ensure the group remains dispersed. An investigation into the circumstances of the incident by Waltham Forest Borough officers is ongoing."

More about London crime