A POLICEMAN was dragged into a pub and glassed by soccer hooligans after Blackburn Rovers' derby day victory.

The officer was attacked in the Black Horse in Abbey Street, Accrington, as police trying to go to their colleague's aid faced a barrage of bottles and glasses.

Thirty six people were arrested for football-related incidents during the day but police, who launched the biggest ever operation at a Lancashire football match, today said that apart from the incident, at 5pm, they were pleased with the way they handled the match.

The officer was dragged inside the pub after he tried to arrest a man standing outside. He suffered facial injuries and cuts and was treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Police sealed off the area. One man has been arrested in connection with the incident and was being questioned today.

Police today confirmed that the assault was carried out at a pub where known trouble-makers following Burnley FC had gathered but said they could not confirm whether either incident involved a notorious gang of hooligans known as the Suicide Squad.

The assault happened amid several stand-offs between fans and police after the game. A number of fights broke out across Accrington town centre between football fans but they were quickly dealt with by police.

The chairman of the Lancashire Police Authoirty, Dr Ruth Henig, today also condemned more than 500 Burnley fans who ignored police advice and travelled to the game by train -- getting off at Rishton station before being marched to Ewood Park under heavy police guard after being spotted by officers. Coun Ruth Henig said: "You have to ask why these people got off the train at Rishton, because it is a long walk to Ewood Park. It is obvious they wanted to break away and make their own way there, probably causing trouble on the way before being spotted by the police."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I am absolutely appalled that thugs have used football as an excuse to commit violence.

"I was very impressed with the way everything was handled at the game and the fans seemed to behave very well. I went to the game with my two sons and it was a wonderful day.

"I doubt these people involved in the incidents in Accrington are true soccer fans and I am appalled that a police officer has been injured as he tried to carry out his duty.

"My thoughts are with him and his family."

A police spokesman said: "The officer was injured as he attempted to arrest someone and was dragged into the pub.

"As other police officers followed him into the pub, they were pelted with a shower of bottles, one of which injured the officer."

Black Horse landlady Eileen Griffiths only took charge of the pub four months ago.

She said: "I don't know what sparked it off, but the pub was packed with Burnley fans. All of a sudden there were bottles and glasses flying in the air. The police had been outside the pub all day and they came in when the trouble started. Then the fans started throwing stuff at the police and I think the policeman might have got hurt then, but I'm not sure."

"I was behind the bar so I couldn't really see what was going on. I've never had any trouble like this before."

Mrs Griffiths closed her pub for the rest of the day while police investigated the incident.

Dr Henig, chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority, said: "Such violence cannot be condoned.

"It is a great shame that some people are determined to spoil the fun for everybody else.

"I had a nasty feeling something like this would happen and someone would get hurt. The police spent months planning for this event and they did very well but some people just set out to cause problems."

Supt Dave Mallaby said: the operation had involved several hundred officers being drafted in for other divisions and had placed a substantial strain on resources.

A special train was laid on for the disappointed Burnley fans after the game, leaving Blackburn at 3.10pm.

Police returned to the station at around 6pm when a large group of fans gathered on the platforms, preparing to board the York-bound train, which calls at Accrington and Burnley.

Some 100 fans were refused entry to the train and were sent back out on to Blackburn Boulevard.

A brief stand-off between a small group of fans and police officers ended when the fans dispersed into Blackburn town centre.

After the troublemakers in Accrington were dispersed, police had to deal with fans threatening each other outside the Royal Oak in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, at 7.30pm.

A police spokesman said: "We had planned for a lot of arrests and 36 arrests is a relatively small number for such a big event."

Supt Mallaby added: "We feel it has gone better than we could have expected. We had planned for this game for months and anticipated public disorder problems."