FOUR Sunderland football fans were yesterday cleared of involvement in violence following the last game of the club's successful promotion season.

They were among a number of rival fans arrested during a confrontation following Sunderland's victory over Birmingham at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, in May last year.

Durham Crown Court was told that, while most of the crowd remained in the ground to celebrate Sunderland's promotion to the Premiership, hundreds of supporters were alleged to have taken part in a pre-arranged brawl on the Millennium Way bridge outside the stadium.

But four of those arrested, 31-year-old John Fagan, of Laurens Court, Concord, Washington; Mark Wilson, 28, of Watling Avenue, Seaham; Steven Traynor, 38, of Victoria Terrace, Coxhoe; and 32-year-old Paul Chambers, of Hedworth Lane, Boldon Colliery, denied violent disorder.

They claimed they were innocently caught up in the confrontation, and were trying to get away from the area when arrested.

Following a trial lasting more than a fortnight, all four were found not guilty.

A fifth man, 30-year-old Sean Edward Elliott, of Wiltshire Road, Witherwack, Sunderland, who also denied the charge, was found not guilty by the jury on the direction of Judge Denis Orde, after the prosecution agreed there was no case to answer.

The judge awarded defence costs to all five cleared men.

Another Sunderland fan, 50-year-old Peter Bellas Thomas, of Riverdale, Castletown, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder at the start of the hearing.

Sentence on him was adjourned pending the outcome of proceedings against Birmingham fan Paul Napier, who also denies violent disorder.

The jury was discharged from reaching a verdict against 39-year-old Mr Napier, of Northfields, Birmingham, following legal submissions, also earlier in the hearing