POLICE have chosen the eve of Burnley's clash with Nottingham Forest to warn football hooligans to stay away from the match - or else.

Tomorrow's Turf Moor match with the Midlands side is the first time Forest fans have been back to East Lancashire since the tragic death of Nathan Shaw last season.

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 Turf Moor at the end of last year.

Anti-hooligan officers were last week in Nottingham to warn thugs not to travel to tomorrow's match and police patrols are to be stepped-up.

The visits were just one part of police preparations for the game. which will also include monitoring hooligan activity on websites.

Andrew McNee, of Rossendale, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to manslaughter earlier this year.

Chief Inspector Richard Morgan said there would be no respite in the battle against hooligans.

He said: "Officers will be travelling to Nottingham before the game to visit the main offenders down there and to warn them not to attend Burnley. If they do they will be arrested. There will be extra police patrols which will help reassure the footballing public and to make sure that people can enjoy the match.

"Violent behaviour of any description simply will not be tolerated.

He added that troublemakers from Burnley could also expect a visit in the run-up to the Nottingham Forest match.

Police said Operation Fixture, Burnley Police's clampdown on hooligans, is now so successful it is being looked at by other forces across the country.

Senior officers from Nottinghamshire Police have visited Burnley and are considering introducing their own version of the scheme.

Figures released last month showed Burnley recorded the second highest number of arrests in the first division and officers said the rise was due to the success of Operation Fixture.

The total number of those arrested at league and cup games rose from 45 in the 2001-2002 season to 130 last season.

Police chiefs said the rise was due to more effective policing and the targeting of known hooligans.

There are currently 48 people banned from Turf Moor by magistrates with a further ten cases going through the courts.