SPY cameras will be used at the Bury FC match at Gigg Lane to identify racist fans conducting a hate campaign against players and their families.

Angry manager Andy Preece tackled taunting Bury fans at last Saturday's game at Torquay and young striker Jon Newby was also involved in an end-of-match incident.

Players' girlfriends have been spat on and the brother of one player was beaten up. Some families are now too scared to attend games.

Club officials and Bury's football intelligence officer, PC Tony Brown, were meeting yesterday to discuss ways of identifying the so-called "supporters", who are tarnishing the Gigg Lane outfit's proud reputation.

Stewards and CCTV cameras will closely monitor the crowd during tomorrow's Third Division game against Leyton Orient.

Preece and midfielder Chris Billy have not been the only targets for the hate mob, who have also rounded on 'keeper Glyn Garner and the club's other white players.

Preece said: "Abuse is being aimed at our players and their families. I will not stand by and let that happen.

"Criticism is part and parcel of the game, we accept that, but this is something different.

"Players' girlfriends have been spat at and one of the player's brothers was beaten up by these guys and he was a white lad, so it's not just racism. It's just absolute thuggery." He described the incident at Torquay as "the tip of the iceberg".

Joint Chairman Fred Mason has vowed that the club will catch the peddlers of hate and said the net was closing in.

He said: "We know we have a problem and have been tracking them, particularly away from home."

Club spokesman Gordon Sorfleet added: "Perpetrators of racial and abusive language, violence, spitting and other actions taint the proud name of Bury Football Club. Over the past few months this has been happening at home and away games to such an extent that some of the players' families have stopped going to games."

PC Brown said he needed the help of real fans to name the culprits, by providing evidence and being willing to stand up in court, if necessary, to help convict the offenders.

"If I can get enough evidence against the perpetrators of such vile and racist remarks then we will prosecute," said PC Brown.

Anyone convicted could face up to two years in jail, a £5,000 fine and a five-year ban from all football grounds.