SIX Darlington football fans arrested after a man was injured and a pub was damaged following an away game on Monday have now been released on bail.

Five windows were smashed, a door was damaged and a man in his 40s suffered a gash to the head when trouble broke out at the Masons Arms pub in Plessey Road, Blyth.

It followed the Quakers 1-0 victory over Blyth Spartans at Croft Park nearby.

Pub landlord John Rouse said: “I have done this job for 30 years and have seen my fair share of trouble and bother over that time, but this is probably the worst I have seen for animal pack instinct.

“There were women and children in the pub at the time and was very distressing for them.

“It is very disappointing for Darlington because it reflects badly on them.

“It is going to cost £1,500 to repair the damage and it is over a football match.  “It is ridiculous.”

Police were called to the pub just after at 5.30pm after receiving a report that a group of people had caused damage.

The arrests were made near the Tyne Tunnel after a coach carrying Darlington supporters was stopped by a convoy of officers in two police vans and eleven patrol cars.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Officers attended and found a number of windows had been smashed and one person had been assaulted and taken to hospital with a head injury.

“Enquiries were carried out and six men were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.”

There were two 17-year-olds, two 18-year-olds and two 26-year-olds.

Today a police spokesperson said: “All six have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.”

Darlington FC’s chief executive officer, Dave Mills, said: “The club would firstly like to state that it abhors violence and inappropriate behaviour of any kind, and secondly that any alleged incident of violence in a Blyth pub was not perpetrated by anyone travelling to the game on the official supporters coach.

“Darlington Football Club is adamant that it will not tolerate any acts of disorder from anyone purporting to support the club, or allow them to tarnish the good name of the club and the vast majority of its excellent supporters.

“The club has already made contact with the police and is aware that they are carrying out a full investigation. The club will await feedback from the police before deciding on any next steps.

“The club routinely takes a proactive stance on any potential inappropriate behaviour by issuing a statement periodically on its website, and anyone with information of this particular incident is urged to contact the police.”

At the start of the season one of two GoPro cameras used by Darlington FC to record goals at home matches was stolen during the second half of a win over Blyth Spartans from the open end of the Heritage Park ground, in Bishop Auckland.

It was returned by the Northumberland club, but not before fans raised hundreds of pounds to buy a replacement.

Anyone with any information about the disorder on Monday is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting ref number 766 28/12/15.