Further to the story headlined "Pub wrecked by hooligans" (The Argus, January 20), I would like to point out the police did most of the damage that night.

These are the facts as they happened.

The Railway Bell public house was full of football supporters of all descriptions as well as local drinkers, young, old, women and men, all in good spirits, singing and celebrating the fine result that afternoon.

We were all rather bemused and somewhat intimidated by the large police presence outside the pub.

There was a minor fracas outside the pub and a few glasses appeared to get smashed in the direction of the police, which I cannot condone in any shape or form.

It must be stressed only a handful of people were behaving in this way. The atmosphere inside the pub was calm.

What happened next was totally unacceptable. The riot police came smashing into the pub, breaking down doors and hitting anything and everything in their path.

I was sitting drinking with my fiancee and three female friends and had to shield them to the rear of the pub to safety. However, they were frightened and wanted to leave.

We attempted to leave by the left-hand door but were met with pepper spray in our faces and were hit around the legs with batons by the over-zealous police officers.

Even when I tried to explain I was trying to get myself and the women to safety, I was again sprayed and hit.

I have no doubt there may have been a small minority of people in the pub who wanted a fight but why did the police not just arrest these people instead of tarring all the people inside the pub with the same brush?

There can be no excuse for this behaviour by the police. The hooligans that night were the police.

-Name and address supplied