POLICE in Burnley today issued a World Cup warning to landlords to blow the whistle on drinkers following tomorrow's England clash with Nigeria.

Officers urged pubs with special licenses for the early-morning game to close at full-time (9.15am) after trouble broke out following England's earlier matches against Sweden and Argentina.

But today landlords gave a mixed reaction to the plea and said kicking fans out immediately after the game would only cause more problems for police.

Inspector John Clucas, of Burnley Police, said: "We want pubs to close for at least half an hour following the game to give fans a sobering up period. Excessive drinking was the main cause of the disorder which followed England's game against Sweden.

"Pubs which stayed open all day for previous matches seemed to experience the most problems while those who closed for an hour or two and reopened later experienced less problems.

"This is why we are advising licensees to close their premises for a short time after World Cup matches to give fans a sobering up period."

A group of about 40 people smashed up taxis and assaulted drivers in what police described as racially motivated violence following England's opening game.

Mr Clucas said: "It was clear that all those involved in the disturbances were heavily under the influence of drink and had been drinking for many hours in pubs throughout the town centre. The sheer level of drunkenness facing officers is a concern which is why we will be speaking to all local licensees.

"The World Cup is a big event and we want people to

enjoy it. What we don't want is the actions of a very small minority of thugs ruining the event for everyone else which is why we will be working closely with licensees and clamping down hard on those seeking to cause trouble."

But Michael Igoe, secretary of the Burnley and District Licensed Victuallers Association and landlord of the Forresters Arms in Todmorden Road, said pushing fans out onto the streets was a bad idea.

He added: "I can see where the police are coming from but if people are already in the pubs, where are they going to go when they close? They will be pushed out onto the streets.

"It would be better to close it with them inside between the matches and let them out in small numbers."

Margaret Prince, of the White Lion, in St James Street, said: "I didn't shut last week after the Argentina match and I didn't have any trouble, although I do have four doormen. It's a good idea to close the pubs after the matches in one sense, but then again if you are a tenant or licensee you will lose income.If the police think there is going to be trouble I will take their advice and shut."

Mike Wright, landlord of the Reedley Hallows pub in Barden Lane, said: "We don't anticipate any trouble at this end of town. It is a nice quiet local place and I'll definitely be staying open."

Warren Stowe, licensee at the Red Lion pub in the town centre, agreed with the idea of closing the pubs. He said: "At the end of the day I will go along with whatever the police are advising.

"I don't have a problem with closing for a short time. It gives me enough time to clean up in between. We have had no trouble so far."

Insp Clucas said there would be a "significant" police presence in Burnley town centre tomorrow when England kick-off against Nigeria at 7.30am.

He added: "We don't want people to be pushed out onto the streets at the same time. If it is done properly people could go and drink somewhere else.

"What was happening after the last England match was that people were sitting in a corner all day and getting absolutely paralytic. We are not kill-joys and we don't want pubs to lose trade."