EIGHT arrests have been made after major violence broke out between Clarets and Sheffield Wednesday fans at a Burnley social club.

Around 40 people are bel-ieved to have been involved in the flare-up, at Burnley Miners Club, in Plumbe Str- eet, after the two clubs met just over a fortnight ago.

The Lancashire Teleg-raph understands that the trouble erupted between two groups in separate rooms at the venue.

One outside window was smashed, and other damage was caused to furniture.

Police have dismissed early reports that an away supp-orter was stabbed.

But investigations are still continuing in East Lanc-ashire and South Yorksh-ire, as a police chief cond- emned the melee.

Those arrested on susp-icion of violent disorder include men aged 52, 37, 18, and 17, from Burnley, a 38-year-old Padiham man, a 49-year-old Nelson man, a 21-year-old man from Colne, and a 54-year-old Rochdale man.

Investigating officers were set to conduct searches at their homes yesterday, as the eight were being inter-viewed.

Chief Superintendent Chris Bithell, of Burnley Police, said: “The level of violence shown by those involved in this disorder was mindless and obscene, and these arr-ests show that we are deter- mined not to tolerate thugg- ish behaviour of this kind linked to football.

“We will continue to work hard with both the club, and members of the public, to identify all of those involved in this disgraceful disorder, and my message to those people is to expect a knock on the door from the police in the near fut-ure.”