VIOLENT disorder among football fans in Portugal has been blamed on heavy handed policing by a Swindon man who witnessed it.

Andy Heron, 29, an Evening Advertiser retail sales executive from Ramleaze, is in Portugal with nine friends for Euro 2004.

He says the trouble in Albufeira two nights ago came when police with riot shields and batons charged after a minor incident.

Mr Heron says the officers attacked fans, holidaymakers and locals alike, prompting an angry reaction from some, including throwing plastic glasses, chairs and tables.

He explained: "All the bars and clubs here are concentrated on a single street, which is known as the Strip.

"The trouble happened at about 12.30am.

"There was some sort of problem at one bar or club perhaps there was a scuffle inside or perhaps somebody had been refused entry.

"Before that, there had been no trouble, and there were ten police at most on duty, probably less.

"The police wanted to go into this place, and they charged along the Strip with their batons drawn, hitting anybody in sight to clear a path.

"As they were doing that, people were being pushed back , and some were getting angry.

"Some people were throwing plastic glasses, and also chairs and tables that had been outside the bar.

"My group was able to get out of the way and back off into another bar, and for the next hour or so we heard the sound of the police charging up and down the road, as well as the sound of officers on horseback."

Mr Heron said there was no trouble between fans of different teams, although followers of many teams were present on the Strip.

Barrie Hudson