EIGHT men have pleaded not guilty to violent disorder during a clash between supporters after the derby match between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley last October.

Violent scenes erupted at the Station Hotel pub in Cherry Tree, Blackburn, between groups of rival fans hours after the game had finished.

At Preston Crown Court Sessions House, the eight defendants all denied the charge of violent disorder.

They are Samuel Bowen, 25, of Melville Drive, David Comberbach, 40, of Bank Hey View, Samuel David Hindle, 18, of Shadsworth Road, Kenneth John Lysons, 20, of Selborne Street, Joshua Riley, 21, of Solway Avenue, Paul Michael Rushton, 45, of Boxwood Drive, all Blackburn, Jordan Daniel Hoyle, 19, of no fixed address, and Christopher James Sutton, 22, of Meadow Gardens, Rishton.

The date of the eight Blackburn fans trial has not yet been fixed, but is expected to take three weeks.

Nineteen other men, Burnley supporters, charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder, will appear at Preston Crown Court for a pre-trial review in July.