A POLICE officer needed hospital treatment after skirmishes broke out involving Burnley fans.

The British Transport officer tore the ligaments in his thumb trying to detain a fan boarding a train on Saturday at Preston Station.

The officer was taken to Royal Preston Hospital. He is said to be recovering well after an operation.

Trouble broke out after Burnley fans arrived in Preston from Bolton, where they had watched their side draw 1-1 with Bolton on the opening day of the season.

PC Keith Holmes, of British Transport Police, based in Preston, said around 600 fans were in the station and, fuelled on drink, became rowdy.

After one incident, involving two fans, a man was told not to board the train and was restrained by the officer, who suffered injuries in the struggle.

After the fan was arrested, PC Holmes and his colleagues travelled with the fans to the Manchester Road station, in Burnley.

"The fans were swearing and shouting all the way. There were families with young children on the train, returning from Blackpool, and the fans took great displeasure when asked to tone their language down," said PC Holmes.