NINETEEN Burnley fans have been banned for life from Turf Moor.

The latest bans take the total of lifetime bans to just over 150 as the club continues its efforts to create a welcoming, family atmosphere at Burnley Football Club.

The Clarets safety officer Alex Wood explained: "All the 19 have been convicted for offences either at home or away.

"As with other bans we have had to wait for the courts to convict but the club is determined to keep such people away from the ground.

"The chairman and the directors are very keen on life bans because they think everyone else feels the benefit. Not every club does it but it has worked well here.

"Quite a few people have been dealt with lately and I sent out notification to the relevant parties yesterday."

The 19 have been convicted for a variety of offences including public order, racist chanting at away grounds, drunkenness and pitch encroachment.

"Incidents happen inside and outside of the grounds but I have to say inside Turf Moor we have had very few arrests," said Wood, who has been the safety officer for the past five years.

"In fact we only had three arrests inside the ground last season with 72 ejections.

"Those offences ranged from away fans being in the home area, abusive behaviour, bad language and not having a ticket.

"But the vast majority, 38, were for smoking in the family stand. That is a rule that we have, the deal to get tickets there is very good and we have plenty of signs around to remind people not to smoke.

"Things are very good at Turf Moor and have been for quite a while."

The enforcement of the bans is mainly carried out by the police who know the people and can monitor them both face to face and by CCTV.

"I think that the supporters welcome this because they don't want to feel threatened and abused by such people," he said. "We want to encourage as many people as possible to come to watch Burnley play and enjoy it in a safe and friendly environment.

"Banning 150 plus trouble causers is nothing compared to getting a crowd of 16,000. If it makes it a better environment, even more people will come."

Chief executive Andrew Watson added: "Life bans are something that our fans have demanded.

"We get letters here and complaints at meetings about the behaviour of some supporters.

"There is no grey area. If they are arrested, taken to trial and then convicted, that is it, they are banned for life."