MORE than 100 Lancashire football hooligans are banned from travelling to the World Cup more than nearly every other part of the country.

There are 124 football banning orders in the county, 57 connected to Burnley FC, 37 to Blackburn Rovers, 26 to Preston North End and four from Blackpool.

This figure puts Lancashire at 10th out of the country's 42 police areas.

Yobs with banning orders will be made to report to a police station and surrender their passports two days prior to the opening match, and on every England match day.

But today the police officer responsible for cutting football-related violence said the high number of banning orders was proof police methods are working.

Inspector Judith Finney said: "Over the recent years, there has been a concerted effort by the constabulary to control behaviour at Lancashire's football games.

Our methods are working and will be continued throughout this season and beyond.

"The constabulary continues to work closely with the Football Association and the force solicitor to target known trouble makers, whilst ensuring that we use current legislation effectively and appropriately."

The World Cup will kick off on June 12 and 100,000 England fans are expected to head to Germany in June and July.

To lessen the risk of trouble, a total of 3,286 Brits have been slapped with football banning orders.

Teams of British police officers will be sent to Germany, and some will be given the same powers as their foreign counterparts.

German police will also head to England to screen fans in the run-up to the event.

Inspector Finney said Operation Summer Nights, a seasonal crackdown on anti-social behaviour, would be linked to the World Cup.

She added: "The vast majority of supporters attending the games are extremely well behaved and act in the true spirit of the game.

"Excluding those individuals who are intent on causing trouble for others will go towards making it even safer for those genuine football fans who want to enjoy the sport."