Eight security guards employed by a forestry company were arrested on Thursday night following a clash with villagers in Jiangxi province, police said yesterday.

Shortly before midnight, about 150 residents of the village of Shuanghong, Tonggu county, attacked the offices of the Luhai Wood Industry Co Ltd, where they attempted to destroy and steal computers, air conditioners and desks, an anonymous police spokesman said.

The attack was sparked by a long-running dispute over land-use rents, he claimed.

When the villagers were confronted by a group of about 30 security guards a fight broke out and 12 locals were injured, three of them seriously, he said. No one was killed in the incident.

Three of the 100 police officers sent to tackle the riot were also injured, one seriously, the spokesman said. All of the injured are being treated in hospital,

Apparently four police cars were overturned in the disturbance, but none was set alight

Villager Chen Shilin said: "The security guards were vicious. They hit anyone they saw." Chen suffered three stab wounds to his back, four to his head, and a broken rib, a doctor said.

As well as the arrested men, several other people are wanted for questioning, the spokesman said. Notices have been put up and appeals have been made on television and radio for the public to come forward with any information about the incident or the missing security guards, police said.

Despite the claims of theft and willful damage, no villagers are being sought for questioning, police said.

A county government official said yesterday that local authorities have also launched an investigation into villagers' grievances and had sent a medical team to the area.