POLICE will be out in force again in Burnley when England take on Denmark in their first knockout World Cup match on Saturday.

Officers will carry out extra, high-visibility patrols throughout the town in a bid to deter disorder and provide added reassurance to visitors.

They will also be working closely with local licensees to ensure that suspected offenders are quickly identified and dealt with.

Evidence-gathering teams, equipped with video cameras, will also be in action, filming football fans, and police warned there would be no escape for troublemakers.

Chief Inspector Richard Morgan said: "The World Cup is a big event and we want people to enjoy it and have a good time.

"What we don't want is the actions of a very small minority of thugs ruining the event for everyone else.

"There is nothing to suggest that there will be disorder but extra police officers are being deployed so that we can deter rowdy behaviour and ensure that, if there is any trouble, we can respond to it very quickly.

"Nine people have already been arrested in connection with incidents which followed the England v Sweden match and more arrests are imminent.

"Disorderly behaviour will simply not be tolerated by police in Burnley. Offenders will be traced and brought before the courts."

The police have already been in touch with publicans to advise them to close for a couple of hours after the match to allow drinkers to have a cooling off period.

Superintendent Steve Hartley said: "We recognise from experience that at times when people are watching England matches they have a lot to drink and they need a cooling off period.

"We are advising landlords to ask people to take a couple of hours out to give them a chance to sober up.

"We have the power to shut down licensed premises if we think disorder is imminent."