Football fever

But the torture felt by most people in Wiltshire was not shared by Devizes man Jean-Marie Lebarbier.

Frenchman Mr Lebarbier was delighted but surprised at France's 2-1 win over England.

Mr Lebarbier, of Edward Road, Devizes, was watching the game live at Devizes Town Football Club with friends and neighbours.

He said: "I think both teams played well, especially England and they were unlucky at the end.

"When we were awarded the free kick in extra time I thought we might draw. Although I'm glad France won I think a draw would have been a fair result.

"I believe England will get through the group along with France and I hope they meet again in the final."

His wife, Janet, who is English, did not watch the game as she is not interested in football.

She did flick the television on during the game when England were leading and was amazed to learn they had lost in such dramatic circumstances.

She said: "I'm pleased for Jean-Marie that France won and I'm sure England will qualify for the next round."

Many people watched the match on big screen tvs at pubs and clubs across the county. At the King Alfred in Malmesbury Road, Chippenham, the manager's son Dan Johnson had the idea way to lift the regulars' spirits a good old sing-along.

"I had U2's record Beautiful Day ready to come on whether we'd won or lost," said Mr Johnson, 24, "and it worked because it really cheered everyone up.

"We had a brilliant night here. We had some people dressed up, with heads and faces painted and I threatened to turn the telly off if they booed the French so they were all very well behaved!

"There was lots to drink and we also had raffles and promotions and my father Tim, who is the manager and I knew everyone in here it really was a great night."

At The Kingfisher in Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham, hard-working manager Allen Miles had to satisfy himself with watching the game through the expressions of his regulars.

"I couldn't see much of what was going on, but I could hear and see what was happening just by looking at them," he said.

"But even though we lost, everyone was really good natured."

He added that he was looking forward to England doing better next time.

But not everyone was so passionate about England's performance.

Police had worried about trouble after the match but apart from a few incidents of drunkenness the upset did cause patrols any problems.

Devizes police said there was no trouble in the town following the game on Sunday night, though one man lost his mobile phone while sitting in the Four Seasons wine bar in High Street.

According to his father, Stafford McLaughlin, better known as "Mac", his 22-year-old son Stafford Junior, who works in London, was sitting at a table after the match when someone who was known to him came up, took his mobile phone, and said, if he wanted it back, he should come outside and take it from him.

Mr McLaughlin Senior said: "There was a gang of 20 people out there. He wasn't going to risk getting beaten up, so he waited until he got home before he called the police. They said they couldn't come out because they were dealing with another incident."

Police confirmed that a complaint of theft had been received, which they were investigating, but could not comment on Mr McLaughlin's other allegations as his son had not told them about any intimidation he had received.

Football fever has gripped Chippenham with St George's flags adorning shops and hundreds of vehicles and according to the police, the enthusiasm has been good-natured.

Sgt Matthew Armstrong of Chippenham police said the football had passed without any incidents.

"There were lots of people about but I don't believe there was any trouble at all," he added. "We patrol the town anyway and we are not expecting any problems on Thursday."

The widespread violence affecting south London, Croydon and Wakefield was not repeated in Swindon.

On the whole Swindon had a good night, with very little trouble, but one woman was injured. The Swindon woman was watching the match in DB's bar in Stroud when a glass was thrown at her head.

She was taken to hospital with minor cuts, a 29 year-old Stroud man was arrested.

Soccer friendly firms

ENGLAND football fans look likely to be able to watch today's crunch game against Switzerland without it affecting their work.

The 5pm kick-off falls nicely for many employees at big firms in Devizes.

At Hayden's Bakeries the bakery shift finishes before 5pm. Other workers' shifts finish at 6pm and the company has given employees the option of starting work earlier if they want to get away to watch the game provided production is not affected.

Dennis Scott, managing director of Hayden's Bakeries, said: "Some of our night shift workers might watch the second half of the match and finish later the following morning.

"As we did when the World Cup was on we are putting a television into our canteen so employees can watch the games."

At Silbury, the parent company of Sarsen Housing Association, the recent introduction of flexi-time working will benefit those who want to be home in time to watch the games.

A spokeswoman said: "Employees who sign up to flexi-time working can start as early as 7.45am and finish at 4pm. It's an optional scheme

"We would like to stress however that our services will not be affected."

At Wadworth brewery most of the production and distribution staff should be back at home in time for the kick off as their shifts finish at 4.30pm.

Television screens aren't permitted at Hygrade Food in Westmead Lane, Chippenham, because of the technical nature of the work but staff will be kept up to date with the score.

There's also lots of work and no play at plastics manufacturer Deceuninck in Calne.

General Manager Ron Painter said: "We have no special plans in place."

At Westinghouse Brakes in Chippenham, workers are also prevented from watching the television because of the technical nature of their jobs, but spokesman Nick Brailey said the shift pattern is pretty football friendly.

He said: "Most of our guys finish between 4pm and 4.30pm, so that fits quite well with most of the matches."

At Westlea Housing in Methuen Park, Chippenham, employees who work to a flexi-time system are able to skip off early tonight for the game if they wish.

Patriotic car firm boss Mark Lovelace is flying the English flag on over 50 cars at his Elm Tree garage in Marlborough. He said most of his staff were soccer mad.

He said: "With every car we sell we are giving the customer a flag and a football and it has gone down well."

But the lucky employees of the Olympiad in Chippenham are not only having all the England matches laid on free, they reckon they've got the biggest screen in Chippenham!

Spokeswoman Barbara Gray said: "We've opened up the studio room with its huge cinema screen for the England matches and are inviting everyone in, including the public."

A spokesman from Dyson confirmed that the company was not planning anything special for the tournament, and that working hours would continue as normal.