EWOOD PARK goes on red alert tomorrow as police prepare for an invasion of Manchester United fans AND possible IRA bomb threats.

Extra officers are to be on duty for Blackburn Rovers' biggest clash of the season following the bomb scare which delayed the Grand National at Aintree last weekend.

And police have warned fans attending the 31,000 sell-out fixture - tomorrow's match of the day in the Premiership - that increased security checks may cause delays getting to the ground and their seats.

Blackburn police are believed to be liaising with their counterparts from Greater Manchester Police in the run up to the game. A similar operation will be launched for United's title clash at Liverpool the following Saturday.

Concern about a possible terrorist targetting of a major football match has grown after the IRA began a campaign of disruption in the run-up to the General Election, which has also included motorway bomb scares.

Insp Stuart Caley, co-ordinator of tomorrow's operation, refused to reveal any details of the security measures being taken.

But he said: "People attending the match will find additional security measures are in place around Ewood Park.

"They have been introduced as a result of recent incidents across the country but may well cause some delay to people trying to get into the car parks and the stadium itself.

"People attending the match are advised to allow themselves extra time to make their way to the stadium and their seats."

Blackburn Rovers stadium manager Mel Highmore said fans should not be unduly alarmed by the security measures, many of which were now carried out "as a matter of course" at homes games.

He added: "We will be doing searches of people's baggage as they go into the ground and security checks may add to the time it takes to get in ."

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