RIOT police had to use their batons to quell trouble among football fans in Wycombe on Saturday.

Shortly after Wycombe Wanderers played their final game of the season against arch rivals Colchester United, the visiting fans managed to rip one of the gates at Adams Park from its hinges - despite a heavy police presence around the ground.

The police were out in force all afternoon as they had anticipated trouble among fans.

Earlier about 70 police congregated near High Wycombe police station to ensure the Colchester fans made their way to the football ground peacefully.

The police managed to keep control of the situation and only three arrests were made for minor offences.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, which places Wycombe 13th in the final league table at the end of a memorable season which saw them reach the semi-final of the FA Cup.

The rivalry between Wycombe and Colchester started in 1985 when the then non-league Wycombe humiliated fourth division Colchester by beating them 2-0 at Loakes Park in an FA Cup match.

In 1990, when both teams were in the Conference League, Wycombe prevented Colchester from winning promotion then the following year, Colchester narrowly stole promotion from Wycombe.

In the late 1990s both teams had made it to Division Two and the fiece rivalry continued. In November 2000 a brawl broke out between fans after a nasty tackle on Wanderers' Alan Beeton. Both clubs received heavy fines.