TWO football hooligans were involved in a large-scale disturbance after a derby match between Hartlepool and Darlington, a court was told.

Yesterday, Darlington supporters Andrew Dalton and Adam Webb were banned from attending any league matches anywhere in the country for the next three years.

Dalton, 27, and Webb, 19, were arrested on October 28 after the 0-0 draw when rival fans clashed near Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool town centre.

Police, who had earlier escorted Quakers fans to the ground, said they were "hellbent on violence", said Shaun Dryden, prosecuting.

Judge George Moorhouse agreed to an application to ban the pair under the 1989 Football Spectators Act after both pleaded guilty to causing an affray.

The judge told the pair: "I am quite satisfied in my own mind that it must have been a very frightening experience for anyone who was there, including young children."

Teesside Crown Court heard that Dalton threw punches at men outside the shopping centre. When he saw police, he ran across the road, but was arrested.

Webb, who was drunk, turned on the crowd and shouted: "Come on you ----, I'll have you".

When Dalton was interviewed by police he said he was approached by a group of Hartlepool supporters saying "Come on you Darlo scum".

He said he was effectively defending himself.

Ian Bradshaw, mitigating for Dalton, said his client had told a probation officer later: "I'm 27, this cannot go on."

He said Dalton had already been punished with a £1,000 fine for breaching his bail when police arrested him at Manchester Airport on his return from a holiday in Mexico.

Paul Newcombe, mitigating for Webb, said: "He is highly chastened for showing public disorder in front of families and young children on a Saturday afternoon."

Dalton of Lansdowne Street, Darlington, who had several convictions for threatening behaviour, including drunk and disorderly after Darlington played in York last year, was given a nine-month suspended jail sentence with supervision for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Webb of Netherby Rise, Darlington, who has a community punishment order for a drugs offence, was given a six-month suspended detention order with supervision and a Think First programme.

Both were ordered to pay £360 costs.