This is the moment a fire-breather turned the tables on a gang of musicians that attacked him in a row over the best place to perform by throwing fireballs at them.

CCTV images show the moment the rucksack-wearing fire breather dashed down the street, pursued by one of the musicians. Then, other members caught up to give the fire breather a beating in the western Mexico city of Morelia in the state of Michoacan.

At one point, the musician, who was apparently part of a Mexican mariachi band, put the fire-breather in a headlock and punched him repeatedly in the face.

The argument later continued as more musicians turned up and he appeared to back down, but instead of that after putting his rucksack on the ground, he took out the flammable liquid used in his performance and began shooting fireballs at the singers.

At least one of the singers was hit and was seen trying to put out the flames on a shirt, and a member of the public who witnessed the incident and tried to step in was also burned on the back.

He ended up rolling on the ground in order to extinguish the flames following the incident on 19th May.

Only when he was out of fireballs did he grab his backpack and try to leave. He can be seen disappearing down a side street, pursued by one of the band members.

It was later reported that the beating he suffered included a stab wound, although it is not clear if the injury from a knife occurred before or after the fire-breathing incident.

He was later seen being treated in an ambulance before being taken to hospital, and his injuries are not reportedly critical. There were no reports on the condition of those who were hit by the fireballs.

Police are investigating the said no arrests have yet been made over the incident which began in a row about who could have the best spot to perform outside a local taco store.