YOUNG football fans have become ‘little celebrities’ after being rescued by Burnley players.

The players stepped in after hundreds of disgruntled West Ham supporters began fighting as they congregated beneath the directors’ box to protest against the club’s board during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley.

Mum Sharyn Sharin El Amir was at the game on Saturday with her son, seven-year-old Zane, nephew, nine-year-old Aston, and family friend eight-year-old William, when the scuffle broke out.

She said: “We were next to the Burnley dugout when the fighting began behind us.

“I was petrified, when something like that happens you never know how it’s going to escalate.

“I was trying to get the boys out when the players lent over and lifted them out.

“They sat with them for about fifteen minutes until the final whistle went then we were taken to a family room.

“They were absolutely loving it, but I was a nervous wreck.”

Ms El Amir said the children are enjoying their new found fame and have become ‘little celebrities’.

She said: “I can’t thanks the players enough for what they have done.”

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said the players had conducted themselves in the right manner.

He said: “I think that was just a bit of diligence from my staff.

“It’s important players conduct themselves in the right manner, and ours did and said if they wanted to jump over, it’s no problem.

“I just turned round and saw some kids there and thought ‘I don’t think they’re subs!’ but there was some common sense, and there was no problem. It’s just about safety.

“There was nothing close but they thought just in case, let’s get them over here.”

The Hammers are facing an investigation by the Football Association after a series of pitch invasions and widespread supporter unrest, which saw co-owner David Sullivan struck by a coin towards the end of Saturday's game.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has condemned the incidents as "disgraceful", his spokesperson said on Monday morning, and called for West Ham to "carry out a thorough investigation, together with stakeholders, and take proper action against those supporters who misbehaved."