POLICE praised the majority of fans’ behaviour at yesterday’s derby match.

Officers said there was no trouble reported before and during the game and only eight people were arrested afterwards for minor public order offences.

However, later officers reported several incidents in East Lancashire towns including the arrest of about 20 people when they were called to The Station Hotel, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

Drunken fights were also reported in Burnley and Accrington.

A police spokeswoman said: “The operation allowed fans to enjoy the game safely.”

But she said in the evening police “tackled a mixture of alcohol-fuelled disorder in both Burnley and Blackburn, with one incident taking place at a pub in Accrington.”

She said: “A serious planned public order incident took place around 6.15pm at the Station pub in Cherry Tree involving both sets of supporters.

“There were no serious injuries but there were approximately 20 people arrested.

“It is disappointing that a small minority of people were determined to ruin the occasion for everybody.”

Blackburn’s MP and council leader praised fans.

Jack Straw said: “The atmosphere was great and I congratulate fans for their behaviour too.

“It was definitely not as nasty as we have seen it in the past and even reminded me of the glory days in the mid-90s.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Mike Lee said: “There was definitely the banter you’d expect between the fans but certainly nothing really nasty and no violence.

“Although the police presence was heavy, most fans were there just to enjoy the game.”

Some Clarets fans arrived at the game dressed as convicts as part of a peaceful protest over controversial policing tactics for the East Lancashire derby.

Handfuls of fans arrived to board their coach dressed as old-fashioned chain gang prisoners – or in Guantanamo Bay style orange boiler suits with Ewood Park stencilled on the back.

Brothers Allan, 28, and Mark Phillipson, from Clayton-le-Moors, said there had been plenty of internet message board speculation about how Clarets should react to the derby day travel arrangements.

Allan, dressed in black and white hoops as prisoner ‘1882’, said: “We just wanted to make a peaceful protest.

“We found all this stuff on e-Bay.

“We decided we should do something because we’ve basically been treated like convicts.”