WARRING fans had to be kept apart after making threats to kill each other as they travelled back from London, a court heard.

Three Darlington and six Hartlepool United fans are standing trial for violent disorder and affray at Teesside Crown Court.

Yesterday, British Transport PC John Foster told the court he was waiting for a train full of supporters to arrive at York Station, on its way from London, where both Darlington and Hartlepool had been playing.

PC Foster said he spent the train journey between York and Darlington trying to keep rival sets of fans apart.

He said one fan, who he identified as David Addison, had tried to get to the Hartlepool fans, who were being contained in the buffet car, and had threatened to "torch him".

PC Foster said Mr Addison, a Darlington fan, had also said they would kill other fans at Darlington.

He said: "He was very, very angry. He wanted to get at the people in the buffet car. He pushed against me in the doorway."

Leslie Paul Gibbon, 31, of Sydenham Road, Hartlepool, Liam David Philips, 21, of Fernwood Avenue, Hartlepool, Lee Alan Atkinson, 20, of Lithgo Close, Hartlepool, and Gregory Swinbourne, 32, of Cowper Grove, Hartlepool, are all charged with violent disorder at York Railway Station on March 110.

Mark Blackett, 33, of Cedar Road, Darlington, Ian Charles Bailey, 23, of Jesmond Gardens, Hartlepool, and Michael Hawdon, 29, of Mildred Street, Darlington, are all charged with violent disorder at Darlington Railway Station on the same date.

Addison, 31, of Bartlett Street, Darlington, Neil Eglintine, 29, of Hurworth Street, Hartlepool, and Mr Atkinson, Mr Gibbon, Mr Swinbourne and Mr Philips are all charged with affray on a train.

All nine deny charges against them.

The trial continues.