MORE than 100 extra police have been drafted into Hartlepool to stop trouble at tomorrow's derby match against arch-rivals Darlington.

Officers say they are stepping up security and there will be a strong police presence before and after the football game at Hartlepool's Victoria Park.

A Cleveland police spokeswoman said: "Due to the history of past derby games there will be additional policing in a friendly but firm manner."

Hartlepool Football Club said it was expecting more than 4,000 fans at tomorrow's match.

The extra police presence comes after past matches between the two clubs saw rival supporters in violent clashes.

Two weeks ago, rival gangs clashed in Hartlepool town centre in a battle which police believe was arranged over the Internet.

Before the Hartlepool and Mansfield match, more than 60 youths fought, using mobile phones to find out where police checks were so they could avoid being caught.

In March, violence flared at the derby match in Darlington, when police were forced to use CS spray and batons to stop unruly fans.

Darlington supporters in pubs rushed out into the street to confront the Hartlepool fans.

Supporters wrote on the club websites afterwards that pub windows were smashed with bar stools, and fans said hooligans threw bricks and glasses at Hartlepool supporters.

The spokeswoman for Cleveland police said officers would be carrying CS gas today. She said: "It is standard practice for officers to carry it."

A Durham police spokesman said that no extra measures were being taken in Darlington for fans returning from the derby.

He said: "There aren't any specific plans we have put in place for the derby. There will be normal police levels in Darlington on Saturday.

"The chances of the fans causing trouble once they get back to Darlington are hopefully fairly remote, and we aren't expecting any more trouble than usual for a bank holiday weekend."