A CROWN COURT jury today heard graphic accounts of the violence between Huddersfield Town and Millwall fans which erupted outside a Waterloo pub a year ago.

One police officer described the clashes, which involved bottles and stones being thrown across a busy main road, as "the most frightening experience" of his time in the force.

And the manageress of The Waterloo pub on Wakefield Road said she felt physically sick to her stomach.

Bystanders caught up in the early-evening violence before the sides’ League One match on April 16 last year described feeling shocked and scared by what they saw, as around 60 men fought running battles.

The mayhem was labelled The Battle of Waterloo.

Prosecutor Bashir Ahmed told the jury that six Millwall supporters and 13 Huddersfield followers had already pleaded guilty to involvement in the clashes, but Millwall fan Grant Mason, 42, a married father of two from Beckenham, Kent, went on trial today after he denied a charge of violent disorder.

Mason claims that he was defending himself or others, but Mr Ahmed said it was the prosecution’s case that his actions went beyond self defence.

See tomorrow's Examiner for full story.