Bid to prevent football violence

The riots caused around £500,000 of damage

Police in Boston are stepping up patrols in the lead-up to England's quarter-final World Cup match in a bid to avoid football violence.

Rioters caused about £500,000 of damage in the town centre in disturbances during the Euro 2004 tournament.

Officers are running a high profile campaign to urge people to report potential troublemakers.

The town has a large population of Portuguese nationals, many of whom work in the agriculture industry.

Victory fears

Two Portuguese fans were also assaulted after Portugal defeated England in the 2004 tournament.

Members of the town's Portuguese community have said they fear the consequences of another victory for their home nation.

Pub landlords have pledged support for the police initiative "In Bars, Not Behind Bars", which uses stickers and posters to deter violence during the World Cup.

A number of shops in Boston were damaged and two police cars were overturned and set on fire after England lost to France on 13 June 2004 in the group stages of the tournament.