A TOTAL of 253 football banning orders were issued in East Lancashire in the last four years, according to the latest figures.

Burnley Football Club had the highest number with 172, Blackburn Rovers had 80 and Accrington Stanley had one.

A football banning order is a civil order often imposed following a conviction for a football related offence, including violence or letting off flares and smoke bombs.

In the 2015/2016 season 54 people were banned from attending Clarets matches, 39 were banned in 2016/2017, 41 were banned in 2017/2018 and 38 were banned in 2018/2019. The youngest person to receive an order was between 10 and 17 and the oldest was between 50 and 64.

In the 2015/2016 season 29 people were banned from attending Rovers matches, 25 were banned in 2016/2017, 13 were banned in 2017/2018 and 13 were banned in 2018/2019. The youngest person to receive an order was between 18 and 39 and the oldest was between 35 and 49.

One man was banned from attending Stanley games during that period.

A police spokesman said: “The majority of people who attend football matches are law-abiding fans who want to watch a good match and enjoy the experience. However there is a minority intent on causing trouble and we will do everything in our power to stop them.

“Banning orders send a clear message that we will not tolerate violence, anti-social behaviour or disorder.”

In September 2017 Jordan Lewis Woods was given a three-year order ran onto the pitch and assaulted Ashley Westwood during a League Cup derby match between Rovers and the Clarets at Ewood Park.

In February Francis Brown, 48, and Frankie Brown, 22, were given six-year banning orders and jailed for four months following the outbreak of violence at the Stoke City game on September 22.

In the same month Luke Smith, 18, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, was given a three-year ban after he threw a plastic bottle into an area occupied by away fans when Aston Villa visited Ewood last September.

In June Ewan Corbett, 20, was jailed for 23 weeks and given an eight-year banning order for attacking stewards at a Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough on February 17.

Last November Thomas Pritchard was banned from attending Clarets matches for four years over incidents relating to Burnley’s Europa League fixtures in Aberdeen, Istanbul and Athens. Rovers and Burnley were contacted for comment.