POLICE have appealed for Middlesbrough football fans to help keep their team bottom of the league in terms of crime, before tonight's home game against Spurs.

Fans' cars are vulnerable to being broken into or stolen when left while their owners watch Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Drivers are also asked to park considerately when going to see their favourite team, to avoid annoying residents.

Fans are advised to park in established car parks, avoid clogging town centre residential streets and to help the emergency services pass without getting held up by inconsiderate drivers.

Superintendent Graham Strange, Middlesbrough district police commander, said: "We're delighted with a fall in auto-crime, that's thefts of and from cars, of up 44 per cent, but that still leaves 219 auto-crime offences last season, which is too many.