Cardiff and Swansea football fans clash at Newbury race

Three people have been arrested after Cardiff and Swansea football fans clashed at a race meeting in Berkshire.

About 30 fans fought running battles at Newbury racecourse for 15 minutes, leading to the closure of bars around the circuit and police being called.

Thames Valley Police said two people were arrested for affray and a third for a public order offence.

Fans of the two clubs have a history of bitter rivalry but it was not clear what prompted the disturbances.

Police were called at 14:03 BST on Saturday by the racecourse staff after violence broke out.

Newbury's managing director Stephen Higgins said: "There was sporadic fighting over about 15 minutes with approximately 30 people involved.

"We have absolutely no idea why it started."

Insp Phil Rogers of Thames Valley Police said there were only a few minor injuries and no complaints were made to police.

It appears to be caused by football supporters from Swansea and Cardiff who met in the ground”

He said: "Two arrests were made for affray and one for a public order offence. The remainder left on buses.

"It appears to be caused by football supporters from Swansea and Cardiff who met in the ground."

Racegoer Julie Davis told the Racing Post: "It was a disgrace and I won't be coming again.

"It took so long to get it sorted out.

"Every time you thought it had stopped it started again. I reckon there were at least 30 people involved. It was scary."

Another eyewitness Denise Mathias told the newspaper: "It just seemed to be a big fight between football supporters from Cardiff and Swansea. It was terrible. I saw a stocky man covered in blood having his head stamped on."

In an unrelated incident, one person was taken by private ambulance to hospital suffering a suspected heart attack.