Eight people were arrested as football-related trouble flared around Shrewsbury on the day of the Shropshire Senior Cup final.

An extra 50 police officers were drafted in to tackle problems on the day, with officers standing guard outside pubs and at gateways into the town on Saturday to ensure trouble was kept to a minimum as Shrewsbury Town FC played AFC Telford United in the big match.

Telford won the game 4-1 on penalties.

Trouble broke out in parts of the town involving rival gangs in what are understood to have been pre-arranged clashes.

Eight people were also ejected from the stadium for a variety of issues, but the club said there was no serious trouble at the Oteley Road ground on the day and praised fans, who it said were well behaved overall.

Club general manager Jon Harris said people were removed from the ground for reasons including smoking and drinking in the stadium and crossing the barrier onto the grass – although he said nobody invaded the pitch area itself.

Mr Harris said that even invading the grass around the pitch was “not acceptable”.

“Once again we’re talking about a very small minority who have made it their mission to try to spoil it for the vast majority,” he said.

“We endeavour to ensure that everybody’s experience on match day is good.”

AFC Telford United chairman Lee Carter said fans “on the whole behaved very well and added to what was a good occasion for Shropshire football”.

Police spokesman Richard Ewels said: “Those arrested were for public order offences, fighting and criminal damage.

“Some have been charged to appear before Shrewsbury magistrates and others have been bailed pending further inquiries.”

Mr Ewels added that eight people were ejected from the ground for minor disorder and three of those were later arrested outside the ground.

Chief Inspector Martin Whitelegg said there were incidents of disorder in the Harlescott and Ditherington areas.

He said the trouble was pre-arranged by people from both towns.

By John Kirk