Seven arrested as trouble flares

10:47am Monday 26th June 2006

POLICE were called to Bournemouth town centre on Sunday night as trouble flared among a large number of football fans who had gathered to celebrate England's world cup win.

Happy England fans had congregated outside a bar in lower Old Christchurch Road at around 6.15pm following the team's 1-0 win over Ecuador.

The group quickly developed into a crowd of around 100 people which made its way up Old Christchurch Road towards Horseshoe Common.

Police said a small minority of people in the groups started throwing cans, coins and bottles at police.

Officers, some with police dogs, dispersed the crowd, which continued to makes its way up Old Christchurch Road towards the Lansdowne.

None of the officers involved in the incident were injured.

Supt David Griffith of Dorset Police, said: "Disorder will not be tolerated and we took swift action in this incident to protect the safety of the public and our officers.

"It would appear there were a small minority of troublemakers in the crowd.

"Officers will be examining CCTV of the incident to identify any other offenders.

"We continue to work very closely with the licensing trade and Bournemouth council."

Seven people six men and one woman were arrested and are currently assisting police with their enquiries.

Of those arrested four are from Bournemouth, one from Poole, one from Wimborne and one from Fordingbridge.

In Germany this morning, 117 England fans held by police since being arrested in Stuttgart on Friday night were expected to leave for home.

Around 375 arrested on Saturday night were freed after England's victory over Ecuador but have been banned from the city centre.