ONE Middlesbrough fan was arrested after police sought to move fans on from the centre of Derby today (Tuesday).

A contingent of Boro fans had gathered in the city ahead of tonight's Championship clash with promotion rivals Derby County.

Police were called to deal with what a spokesman for Derbyshire Police described as general rowdiness. The supporter was arrested for a minor public order offence.

"There was a little bit of a public order situation earlier on this afternoon," said the force spokesman, who added that the fans had arrived earlier than normal for what was an evening game.

"There was a large group in the city centre. They got a bit rowdy, there wasn't anything major in terms of fighting or anything like that. But it's the city centre and the people going about their business don't need that. The crowd pretty much of their own volition separated, one group went one way and the other group was issued with Section 34 notices, which is an order that bars them from a specified area of the city centre."

He said that contrary to suggestions elsewhere fans were not escorted to the train station and told to leave the city. He said that the station was in the vicinity of the iPro Stadium where the match is being played and it was merely an effort to remove the crowd from the centre of Derby.