ECSTATIC England fans across East Lancashire celebrated at the weekend as Beckham and Co booked their place in the quarter finals of the World Cup.

Supporters in red and white crammed into pubs to watch England's thrilling 3-0 win over Denmark on Saturday.

But it was a different story for local Ireland fans, who saw their team crash out after going to penalties against Spain in a nail-biting match.

At the Blues bar at Ewood Park, management were forced to turn some supporters away, as more than 350 fans crammed in to watch the England match.

Bar manager Janet Jenkins said: "We have been busy here for all the England games and everyone has been in very high spirits."

Delighted fans began celebrating as soon as the first goal went in after just five minutes -- and continued right through to full time.

Lee Fowley, 35, of New Wellington Close, Blackburn, said: "It was absolutely superb, a great result. It doesn't get any better than this. The atmosphere was superb, and Ferdinand was so good. The defence was tight and it just shut them out. Brilliant."

Andy Gettins, 34, from Oswaldtwistle, said he had already booked the day off work for next Friday's match. "I knew we'd win. Owen's goal was good, because it was his first of the tournament."

Emily Croydon, 16, of Derwent Crescent, Clitheroe, watched the match with her friend Sarah Johnson, 16, of Windsor Avenue, Clitheroe. She said: "The first half was fantastic, and I was really pleased for Heskey, who has taken a lot of stick lately. We are just hoping for Belgium now in the next round."

But at O'Neill's Irish bar in King William Street, Ireland fans who had seen their team equalise with Spain at 1-1 in the last minutes of the game, watched them go out in a penalty shoot-out.

Martin Sealeaf, 31, of Lansdowne Street, said: "Ireland were superb, and just unlucky to go out. They were a better side."

Michelle Hutton, 36, of Oswaldtwistle, said: "It was the best match so far in the tournament and I am very upset now." Rick Doyle, 39, of Mill Hill, said: "They matched Spain man for man and deserved to go through."