Armed Offender Squads remain in Opotiki amidst growing gang tension and fears of a brawl in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town.

Area Inspector Commander Kevin Taylor said police were alerted yesterday to the increased hostility between two local gangs and responded with out of town AOS teams and extra staff members.

The tension's believed to stem from a fatal crash on Saturday afternoon near Te Kaha when a Tribesmen gang member was hit by a van when leaving a wedding on his motorbike.

Police found the van burned out yesterday nearby.

An Opotiki local who did not wish to be identified said up to 80 Tribesmen members attended the funeral in Opotiki yesterday and there are growing fears of retaliation.