SAFETY precautions are to be stepped up at Gigg Lane as Bury FC prepare to play in the First Division.

The Shakers will entertain some of the best-supported clubs in the country, many of which attract as many as 5,000 travelling fans.

Bury Council chiefs, representatives from the three emergency services, and the club will meet this month to discuss improving an already positive approach to crowd control and public safety.

With nearly 12,000 supporters watching some home matches, the club will have to recruit more stewards to deal with all aspects of safety required under provisions of the Safety of Sports Ground Act.

Mr Stan Sexton, principal health and safety advisor with Bury Council and chairman of the Safety at Sports Grounds Advisory Group, said Bury FC's meteoric rise to first division football would result in major changes in the way games will be planned.

"Transport to the town via Metrolink, parking around Gigg Lane, capacity crowds and policing would alter dramatically," he said.

"Bury will see thousands of people coming into the town on match days and we will have to take safety and crowd control procedures to a higher level to effectively deal with any problems.

"The subject of safety at Bury FC is taken very seriously and the club is to be commended. Their stewards are probably the best in the North West and I am confident the professionalism shown in the past will shine next season."

With Bury facing teams with a proven track record of supporter trouble, local police will also have their work cut out to ensure games run smoothly and the fans return home without incident.

Chief Insp David Morris, head of operations at Bury Police, said the way home games will be policed next season will be discussed at a special meeting.

"Next season will be, pardon the pun, a completely different ball game and we have yet to discuss our strategy for Bury's division one games," he said.

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