Town Mayor Coun Rupert Swarbrick and president of the Field Day committee, Bill Houghton, both blamed 'outsiders' for causing the disturbances which resulted in 21 arrests.
Coun Swarbrick commented: "I hope justice is properly done with all those people who came in for the day to cause trouble. If there were any Longridge people involved, I hope they feel both contrite and embarrassed."
Bill Houghton said he and the Field Day team were very concerned by the problems which had escalated at the end of what had been one of the most successful of the town's annual community events.
He said: "These people who come in don't give anything into our collecting buckets, they don't take part, they just create problems.
"I don't know what the answer is, short of closing all the pubs. But this would only put pressure on the supermarkets trying to meet the demand for drink."
For the police, Ribble Valley Insp Jenny Coulston-Herrmann said: "The safety of people attending events such as this is always our utmost priority. The Event Safety Advisory Group will be meeting with organisers to discuss any potential changes next year to prevent disorder from occurring."
Arrest
The 21 arrested mainly for being drunk and disorderly were from Preston, Darwen, Barton, Goosnargh and Ingol as well as five from Longridge – three females aged 16, 23 and 44 and two males aged 18 and 21.
A spokesperson for Longridge police said the majority of offenders were issued with £80 or £40 fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour, with one 18-year-old from Ingol receiving a reprimand for his drunken actions and a 24-year-old man from Preston due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates on Friday for drunk and disorderly behaviour and the assault of a police officer, after he allegedly spat in the officer's face.
Also, a 16-year-old from Preston was due to appear before magistrates in Preston on Monday after his arrest for being drunk and disorderly saw him in breach of bail conditions.
Three of the offenders were arrested for offences other than being drunk and disorderly, including an 18-year-old from Goosnargh who received a caution for a public order offence and two 17-year-olds from Preston who were found to be in breach of bail conditions by visiting Longridge.
The police spokesperson said "sporadic incidents" started to break out in the town centre just after 7pm, continuing until approximately 11pm.
Extra police – including another support unit and a dog handler – had to be drafted in from Preston to assist local officers and the Blackburn support unit, which had been in Longridge all day. It is believed Saturday's good weather encouraged drinking to start early and the pubs in the town reported a brisk trade.