NORTH-EAST football fans demonstrated their renowned passion for the game yesterday - by snapping up England tickets in record time.

It took less than an hour for all 24,000 available seats to be taken for the national team's clash with Slovakia at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium next month.

The ticket hotline for the Euro 2004 qualifying match opened at 10am - and by 10.53am the arena was guaranteed to be a sell-out on June 11. Football Association spokes-man Adrian Bevington said: "Clearly this shows the huge attraction of the England team.

"It's the first time for almost 70 years that the national team has played in Middlesbrough and we're sure everybody who's been fortunate enough to secure a ticket will have a wonderful evening."

The England squad will prepare for the crucial game by training at the £7m Rockcliffe Park complex in Hurworth, near Darlington.

Disabled fans can still get tickets by calling (0207) 745 4776.

* A North-East man has been arrested after police and the Football Association launched a nation-wide plea to track down yobs involved in a pitch invasion.

The man, who has not been named, was held by Northumbria Police after being identified by a member of the public. The arrest follows the publication of pictures of 29 men who took part in pitch invasions during England's football clash with Turkey at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on April 2.

Two other men have been arrested by police elsewhere in the country.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "There has been a good flow of calls to the incident room.

"Ten of the people have now been identified. Three have been arrested - one in Northumbria and two in other parts of the country."

More than 16,000 people logged on to the force's website in the first few hours after the pictures, published by The Northern Echo yesterday, were released.

Each picture had its own serial number.

Anyone with information about any of the yobs should call 0191-563 6677, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.