TROUBLEMAKERS at Burnley FC games who have been making a nuisance of themselves for nearly six years have been banned from Turf Moor.

Football intelligence experts from Lancashire Police mounted two successful civil actions against Thomas Pritchard, 20, and Christopher Whittam, 26, after a series of complaints about their behaviour at Clarets games.

Video footage of Pritchard showing him involved in disorder, which had been compiled by police, was shown to Burnley magistrates.

Pritchard, of Cog Lane, Burnley, contested an application by the force for a football banning order.

He was alleged to have been involved in trouble between October, 2006 and January, 2011.

But, after a day-long hearing, he was barred from all professional games for three years by magistrates and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Whittam, of Torquay Avenue, Lanehead, Burnley, did not oppose a similar police application.

He was also banned from grounds for three years, with £300 costs.

Sgt Neil Goodenough, from the police football intelligence unit, said: “These men have been on the periphery of trouble and have obviously become directly involved on occasion as they have come to the attention of our football risk group for Burnley FC.

“Whittam’s offending dates back to 2005 and there are lots of references to him in our intelligence logs for this kind of behaviour.”

The latest bans follow the lengthy exclusion orders placed on Burnley and Blackburn fans following the 2009 East Lancashire derby.