A low turnout scuppered the fourth round of talks aimed at ending gang violence last night.

But Police remain hopeful that a meeting tomorrow will make the breakthrough.

A brief Police statement faxed to The Royal Gazette last night read: "Tonight's turnout by representatives of the former rival groups at Warwick Camp was lower than previous meetings, the reason for which was not immediately apparent.

"Optimism, however remains high and expectant for Thursday's meeting, details of which will be announced shortly.'' It was not clear how many people actually turned up to last night's meeting as members of the press, who had been allowed to talk to gang members after previous talks, had been banned from attending altogether.

The Police set up meetings after a clamp-down on gang activity had seen 145 arrests last month. Violence had raged since Cup Match after a mob wielding baseball bats and knives went to PHC's clubhouse in Warwick and terrorised members and attacked cars.

Gang talks rescheduled Police later found stashes of Molotov cocktails on Court Street, Hamilton, and White Hill Field, Sandys, while sightings of guns were reported in Warwick and Southampton.

The first meeting held at CedarBridge Academy on August 29 saw around a dozen gang members from outside town attend and thrash out differences for over three hours.

But only days later, on Labour Day Sunday, a 17-year-old man was stabbed in front of the Escape Night Club in Hamilton while gangs also confronted each other on Ord Road, Paget a day later, forcing Police to again step up patrols.

A September 5 meeting saw 23 gang members attend -- town groups also went and made their peace with factions from the West End but factions from Kyber Pass and Ord Road, Warwick, were still missing.

Gang leaders blamed high school kids for igniting tension which then escalated and drew in older group members.

At another meeting two days later, attendance rose to 40 as participants attacked the perception that gangs were selling drugs and talks were only being held to end fighting which had disrupted their trade.