SCORES of police officers and licensees will support a football match operation to ensure hooligans don't foul up this weekend's derby day for others.

Chester and Wrexham go head-to-head at noon on Sunday, in a Coca-Cola League Two match at the Saunders Honda Stadium in Bumpers Lane.

Police are reassuring true fans, shop-pers and visitors to the city that they will be working around the clock on match day with partners from North Wales Police, British Transport Police and Merseyside mounted officers to ensure a trouble-free time.

Matches between the teams have in the past been marred by outbreaks of violence both around football stadiums and further afield.

Much of the violence has been alcohol-fuelled and pub-closure tactics are being adopted to ensure history isn't repeated before, during or after the fixture.

Chester City Football Club police liaison officer PC Jerry Allcock said: 'We have asked all pubs and bars in Chester to refrain from selling alcohol until noon. We've received overwhelming support for this and many shops and supermarkets are also refusing to sell beer and spirits until lunch-time.'

Working with Chester's pubs and bars through the Pubwatch scheme, the police will be able to monitor what is going on from the 'silver control' operations room in the town hall police station.

From there, they can contact any of Chester pubs in the Pubwatch scheme using the 'co-sine' radio network, as well as using the city's CCTV network.

It has been confirmed that all the pubs in the Chester Pubwatch scheme, almost 100, will be opening at noon so no one can drink before the match.

Sunday's fixture is a ticket-only event and police are reminding fans that no tickets will be for sale on match day.

Kick-off is at noon and spectators are urged to arrive early to avoid congestion at the turnstiles as the stadium will be full to capacity.

At the end of the game (1.45pm onward) vehicular access into Bumpers Lane from Sealand Road will be prevented to aid safe crowd dispersal.

The closure will remain in force for about one hour. Access into Sovereign Way from Sealand Road will not be restricted.

Traffic congestion is expected to be high after the match and non-football traffic is requested to avoid the immediate area of the stadium.

Supt Paul McHugh, who is over-seeing the operation on match day, said: 'We are extremely well-prepared for this fixture. On match day the officers out on the streets will not be the only ones watching over things.

'We've got support from CCTV and undercover officers. We've also got information relating to the planned movements of supporters.

'The message to hooligans is simple - stay away.'