Fans banned after violence

The violence erupted outside Carlisle's Brunton Park ground

Police in Cumbria have welcomed a court decision banning five Carlisle football hooligans from every ground in Britain.

Five men admitted charges of disorder at Carlisle United's first home match against Hartlepool in August 2002.

Cumbria Crown Court ordered the five to be banned from every UK football ground and also from following the England national team abroad for three years.

Andrew McGarvey, 34, Paul Lamonby, 25, Jason Harkness 32, Malcolm Shaftoe, 27, and 31-year-old Carl Hull, who are all from Carlisle, were also sentenced to between 100 and 200 hours' community punishment order and each have to pay £120 costs.

They were involved in violence which erupted as fans walked from the match at Carlisle Brunton Park ground.

The police were forced to use CS gas spray and batons to try to contain the situation.

Detective Constable Ian Hodgson of Cumbria Police welcomed the sentencing and said it sent out " a strong message" to other hooligans.

At Carlisle Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Barbara Forrester said it had been "a terrifying experience for people who witnessed the violence".

She added: You are all old enough to know better."

Recently Carlisle was rated the third worst club in the league for violence.

A spokesman for Carlisle United said the club was working closely with the police and the Football Intelligence Unit.