CHARITIES are set to benefit from more than £16,000 from unclaimed Burnley FC ticket refunds.

After the pre-season friendly against Hanover 96 was abandoned after crowd trouble, supporters had the chance to get a refund or allocate the cash to a charity.

The club raised £16,132.68 through non-refunded tickets, of which £3,500 will be given to the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal and £3,500 will be given to Pendleside Hospice.

Another £3,500 will be donated to Cares, a charity set up to raise awareness of cancer.

Fans told of their horror as riot police were called in to stop crowd trouble at the Clarets’ pre-season friendly in August.

A police officer and three stewards were injured following the disorder, which occurred after fans of the German Bundesliga side charged towards home supporters during the first half at Turf Moor.

Mike Garlick, Burnley FC’s chairman, said the generous gesture from the fans was fantastic.

He said: “I would like to thank the many Clarets fans who chose not to claim their refunds.

“Your generosity will now benefit so many people through the work of these fantastic local charities.

“A negative experience at Turf Moor has been turned into such a positive and that’s testament to the community spirit of Burnley FC fans.”

Police said 40 minutes into the game a large group of Hanover fans attempted to breach segregation and attack home supporters.

Police officers and stewards being attacked and Lancashire Police decided, in consultation with the referee and the club’s ground safety officer, that the game could not continue.

Fans of the German side also threw seats into the home section of the stand just a few minutes before the half-time whistle.

Extra police were drafted in from across the county and the visiting Hanover fans were escorted from the stadium and away from the ground to ensure no further disorder took place.

The police officer suffered a head injury and was treated at Burnley General Hospital.