FOOTBALL fans caught up in violence in Marseille have described their horror.

Sussex fans who were among the England supporters caught up in violent clashes between Russia and England fans after Saturday night's draw in Marseille.

They described "crazy" scenes, including organised violence, bottles being hurled through the air, fans arming themselves with weapons and chaotic policing from the authorities.

Argus assistant news editor Arron Hendy who was at the match said scenes of fighting fans, smashed bottles and the smell of tear gas was reminiscent of games from the 1980s.

Footage has emerged of fans from Russia and England marauding through the streets, with people being punched and kicked as they lay on the floor.

The streets were carpeted with glass and chairs were seen smeared with blood as the police struggled to contain the violence.

Earlier, water cannons and tear gas were used as fist fights and bottle-throwing broke out between the England supporters and their Russian and French counterparts in Marseille's Old Port.

Boxing coach Adam Haniver, 36, of Eastbourne described the terrifying scenes of organised hooliganism.

He said the fireworks appeared to be a "starting piston" for organised hooligans to launch their attack - forcing fans to have to climb fences to leave the 67,000-capacity stadium.

He said: "We were like rats trapped in tunnels.

"We were behind the goal and there were mainly French and English people and a few Russians. There were lots of families and people with disabilities.

"All of a sudden the Russians ran round the back and blocked the stands.

"The fireworks were like a signal to charge.

"Russians with scarves over their faces fly down the rows kicking punching and with objects in their hands.

"Once we were outside everyone was rushing around and saying 'they are coming.'.

"These were groups of organised gangs with earpieces targetting the English.

"You'd try to escape up one street and you'd have to come back when another gang came the other way.

"People outside the grounds were grabbing bottles off the floor and putting them in their pockets. People were trying to grab weapons to protect themselves."

Mr Haniver criticised the authorities, who appeared almost entirely absent within the stadium, and allowed opposing fans who had already be embroiled in scuffles prior to the game to leave at the same time with no transport available.

WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO END UP IN HOSPITAL, BADLY INJURED

By Arron Hendy in Marseilles

AS the Russians stormed towards us across the terraces it was time to make a run for it.

After their team scored in injury time on Saturday, the Stade Vélodrome in Marseilles became the focus for the kind of violence seen at the Old Port over the previous two nights.

Things quickly turned ugly and we were trapped – with no police in sight.

In desperation we had to clamber over the seats to escape.

All around us England fans were being attacked by Russian hooligans.

To our horror, many of the Russian thugs then managed to get right among the England fans, who included families with children.

The violence escalated as they threw punches wildly at anyone in their way.

There were children not far from this. It was a disgrace.

I had quite a weekend. My brother Mark and I were lucky to see the game and should think ourselves fortunate that we didn’t end up in hospital as has tragically been the case for some.

Arriving at the Old Port just before the 9pm kick-off we saw the crowds and the smashed bottles. We saw wounded English men, blood on their clothes.

The smell of tear gas was strong. It was like the games I used to go to in the 1980s so we knew to avoid it. The long boulevard to the stadium had a great atmosphere with people singing and, while some England fans were being boisterous and climbing trees, I saw no fighting.

The French police had sirens blaring as they arrived in vehicles and stood looking at us.

But where was the security in the ground? After a half-hearted search in which I could easily have taken in a knife, we strolled in to enjoy a great match with great singing – until the end of the game.

After two nights of fighting, the Russians were separated by half a dozen civilian stewards.

When it all kicked off the stewards were nowhere to be seen and I don’t blame them. The Russians were standing with their arms out and rushing at the English.

This should have come as no surprise to the French and they could have prevented it.

We headed off into the night having made it away from those who were fighting. On television at the hotel the French debated why it had happened in Marseilles when it no longer happens in England.

It’s quite simple though. If two sets of fans have been embroiled in fights for two nights and you sit them next to each other with no gap or real security in between then good luck.