US college party spirals into violence

An end-of-year college party spiralled out of control as police fired pellets and used pepper spray to break up hundreds of rioting students who sparked a string of street fires at Kent State University.

Students hurled furniture and street signs into the flames as a police commando team in riot gear converged on the crowd.

Kent police said the party grew violent after one reveller was arrested and students began pelting officers with bottles, bricks and rocks.

It was the first violent clash between Kent State students and police in years.