A POLICE officer suffered a broken finger and a football fan was arrested following Bury's home clash with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday (Jan 19).

A large group of visiting fans was being escorted along Knowsley Street by police when fighting broke out.

Officers in riot gear and mounted police quashed the trouble and ushered the crowd towards the Metrolink station at Bury Interchange.

One eyewitness told the Bury Times: "We were waiting at the traffic lights near to the town hall when we saw the police herding a crowd of fans towards the Interchange. "About 15 fans from Tranmere began fighting in the street. They were punching and kicking each other.

"The police jumped in and broke it up. It happened very quickly but it was quite frightening."

Pubs leading from the Gigg Lane ground locked their doors while the away fans were escorted to the town centre after the match.

The motorist, who did not want to be named, said mounted police pinned the group in The Haymarket area before the fans were escorted to the tram station.

A second eyewitness watched a number of officers eject one supporter from the tram.

PC John Flowers, of Bury police, said rumours of a post-match fight between rival Bury and Tranmere fans in the town centre had been heard but it did not materialise.

He said: "One away fan was arrested for a public order matter and a Tactical Aid Unit officer suffered a broken finger. The Tranmere fans were escorted to Manchester as is the normal procedure."