RAILWAY police were put on red alert to cope with rowdy holidaymakers and fans heading for a crunch match between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United.

British Transport Police said they had been appalled by the behaviour of some Blackpool-bound trippers on the Colne-Preston line and drafted extra men to cope with trouble.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.