IT was the greatest party Sussex had ever seen. Fans were dancing in the streets across the county as they toasted England's 2-0 World Cup win over Tunisia.

Many supporters had taken the day off work while others watched the match in their lunch-hour as the whole county came to a standstill

The streets of Brighton erupted at the final whistle, with gangs of supporters running down North Street and through The Lanes holding the England flag.

There were two arrests in Brighton, both for disorder, after damage was caused to a van and a window at The Sussex pub.

In Worthing, a bar was virtually surrounded by police as England fans celebrated the win.

Fans could be heard singing, chanting and cheering in surrounding streets as the cup clash came to a climax at the Tzar Bar in Chatsworth Road.

Officers descended on the bar and at one point there were five patrol cars and a police van parked up in Chatsworth Road.

But a police spokesman said the supporters, while rowdy, did not seem to be causing serious trouble.

He added: "There were plenty of officers around to monitor the situation."

Brighton's Palace Pier shuddered under the weight of 500 cheering England supporters. They roared their approval as they watched the game on TV screens at Horatio's Bar and the next-door Off Shore Bar on the pier.

Marie White, spokeswoman for the pier, said: "We've been very pleased with the crowd's behaviour. There is no aggressive tension, just real excitement.

"The World Cup really kicked off here today but everyone was really well behaved."

At Brighton racecourse - the only one in the country open yesterday - punters could not believe their luck when England romped home to a 2-0 victory.

Scores had bet on an England win with strong backing for Alan Shearer to score the first goal at 11-4.

They whistled and cheered as Hoddle's 11 tested the Tunisian defence over the 90 minutes.

And the grandstand went wild when Paul Scholes blasted home the second goal in the closing stages.

The football, shown on a 10ft screen in the grandstand building and on TV around the course brought a crowd of 800 to the Brighton meeting.

Phil Bell, commercial manager, said: "We knew we were up against it today, but we had to provide a service to our racegoers. We feel we have done quite well to get anybody up here in the circumstances."

Brighton Race Course member Pat Smith was celebrating his 63rd birthday.

Pat, who was backing a 2-1 England victory, said: "With a good card of runners and football on the screen, it was an absolute bonus. The atmosphere was brilliant."

At Brighton Marina Bowlplex, screens used to monitor scores, broadcast the action live, giving players the chance to monitor personal and national strikes.

As customers kept the bowling alleys busy, players of all ages cheered along with fans across the country.

At the Stanmer Park Tavern in Ditchling Road, Brighton, fans cheered England to victory.

Landlord Tony Heath reckoned the fans had drunk over 500 pints during the game as they cheered on the team.

Tamsin Waller, 21, of Downs View, Hassocks, had painted George Crosses on her fingernails.

The Font and Firkin in The Lanes, Brighton, was packed to capacity as fans crowded in to watch the game.

Lee Garland, a lifeguard at Saltdean Lido, said: "The atmosphere was absolutely electric. The place erupted when Shearer scored. Everyone was jumping up and down and cheering."

Fans in Chichester turned the streets red, white and blue as they paraded through the city holding a cardboard cut-out of Shearer.

Some footie fans also nipped into TV shops to grab a piece of World Cup action.

Staff at Granada TV in Montague Street, Worthing, set up speakers over the doorway so that shoppers could get a taste of the action.

Manageress Jaron Chamberlain said: "I think we will need to serve drinks for the next match."

In Mid-Sussex, former Eire international and Albion player Gerry Ryan swapped his international allegiance for the afternoon at his Witch pub at Lindfield.

He said: "For a lot of people the match was the start of the World Cup."

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