PARAMEDICS said reports of assaults in the North West increased by more than a third in the wake of England’s tense 1-1 draw with the USA.

Police and ambulance crews had appealed for calm, fearing passions sparked by the World Cup could spill over into violence.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) officials said the number of assault-related injuries rose by 34 per cent, and the total number of calls, compared to a normal Saturday night, increased by 15 per cent.

However, police said they were was comparatively little trouble in East Lancashire’s town centres.

Police horses were deployed in Burnley town centre to maintain order.

NWAS was unable to provide actual number of assaults, except to say there were 1,983 emergency calls across the North West, up 21 per cent.

Derek Cartwright, NWAS paramedics director, said: “During an event like the World Cup, activity is always increased.

"However, we anticipated this surge in demand and managed it appropriately by increasing resources.

“All our staff worked hard both in control rooms managing emergency calls and deploying vehicles, and on frontline vehicles tending to patients.”