EIGHT football fans were arrested after police mounted a massive operation in a bid to prevent trouble escalating between rival fans.

Two hundreds officers took to the streets on Saturday morning to deal with thousands of Huddersfield Town and Leeds United fans entering the town for the midday match.

All but two of the town centre pubs kept their doors closed in the hope it would stop alcohol-fuelled fans causing trouble.

Planning for the derby match has been underway since Christmas – and police were pleased with the fans reaction on Saturday.

Chief Inspector Ged McManus said: “From a policing point of view, out of 20,700 fans we made eight arrests.

“I’d like to thank the Huddersfield and Leeds supporters as the vast majority came to enjoy a game of football and went home again.

“There was a very small minority of people who spoilt it, we made eight arrests for drunkenness and public order offences, but those were in order to prevent an escalation of trouble and were not serious.

“It was a good day for the football team on the pitch and it was a good day for us.

“There was an issue with a few fans at the end near the Leeds coaches with swearing and chanting between the two sets of fans, but nothing serious.”

From 9.30am on Saturday morning hundreds of officers were patrolling the town centre, including a heavy police presence outside the train station.

There was also 16 mounted police officers and eight dog units.

With the exception of The Wellington, on Westgate, and Verve, on Byram Street, all pubs had kept their doors closed until midday.

A heavy police presence remained outside both pubs which opened until fans had left to walk to the ground.

Over the past few years two Town fans have been given banning orders, preventing them from attending matches. A further 20 applications are being processed and police were keeping a close eye on the known troublemakers.

Police cells at Huddersfield Police Station, currently undergoing a refurbishment, were re-opened for the day which meant police could hold the eight arrested fan in the town.

Chief Insp McManus added: “The majority of people who came to a football match come to enjoy a game of football and enjoy the atmosphere that goes with it.

"Our presence here was to aid that, make sure that there is no trouble and to deal with it if and when it occurs to ensure that the majority of the people who go can enjoy it.

"This is a big game and it has a big significance to the fans – our job is to make sure there is no trouble.”

Some fans reported seeing verbal clashes between rival fans after the match – but no violence broke out.

To watch a video of the policing operation and fans reaction to Town’s win, visit www.examiner.co.uk