NOTTINGHAM Forest fans returned to Burnley yesterday for the first time since the tragic death of Nathan Shaw and police said the day passed off peacefully.

About 600 Forest fans made the trip from the Midlands for the match at Turf Moor, which Forest won 3-0, and police said there had been no hint of trouble.

Nathan, 17, was killed in Burnley town centre when he was hit on the head with a bottle as he made his way to the Burnley v Nottingham Forest match at the end of last year. Andrew McNee, of Rossendale, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to manslaughter earlier this year.

The death spurred authorities into action against the small minority of hooligans and gave them a renewed determination to stamp out troublemakers.

Police from Burnley travelled to the Midlands to warn known troublemakers to steer clear of Burnley for last night's match and the policy seems to have paid off.

Officers from Nottingham also came to Burnley to discuss tactics and were so impressed with Operation Fixture, the force's clampdown on hooligans, they are currently considering introducing their own version of the scheme.

Chief Inspector Richard Morgan, of Burnley Police, said: "The policing operation was a raging success and there were no problems at all. We were delighted with how it went."

A spokesman for the Rossendale Clarets supporters group echoed Ch Insp Morgan's sentiments. They added: "There were no problems at all before, during or after the match and the whole event passed off very peacefully.

"In fact, not many away fans seemed to have made the trip."