A FOOTBALL-loving couple from Worcestershire have cancelled their trip to France for Euro 2016 amid growing safety fears.

Laura Best, 35, from Malvern, her partner Simon Burge, 42, and their friend Craig Dewhurst were planning to go to France for three days to experience the fan zones and soak up the atmosphere at the much-anticipated festival of football.

But after violence between fans over the past few days, and ongoing concerns the tournament could be a terror target, they have reluctantly decided to cancel the trip.

They had already booked their hotel accommodation, which will not be refunded.

Miss Best said: "I think it is just too dangerous to be going. It is very disappointing but we have to put our safety first.

"I think the English fans are being unfairly blamed for the trouble, when a lot of it was the French and Russian supporters.

"I don't know what the authorities can do to stop it, it's awful what is happening."

Keith Chambers, vice chairman of Worcester City FC Supporters Club, is also alarmed by the scenes in France - but believes supporters should not shoulder all of the blame.

"The security has been shocking, Police have been running amok and as a supporters' club we have been pretty unimpressed with what we have seen," he said.

"It is two-faced for places to serve so much alcohol to fans and then blame them for what happens; having said that you don't need to drink copious amounts to enjoy a game of football."

Mr Chambers is backing the French Government's move to ban alcohol in fan zones and other 'sensitive' areas.

He said: "I think it is a good idea as long as all the fans are banned from drinking alcohol, it is not just the English who are causing trouble."

England's hotly-anticipated 'Battle of Britain' clash against Wales kicks off at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday).

Over in France, the huge security operation surrounding the match has been bolstered amid fears of a fresh wave of violence.

Extra British police are being deployed to France and authorities in both England and Russia have appealed for supporters to behave after clashes between their fans.

Uefa have handed Russia a suspended disqualification from the tournament following the crowd disturbances at the game against the Three Lions in Marseille on Saturday, while the Football Association were previously warned that further disorder could lead to the England team also being kicked out.

In the Commons on Tuesday, Theresa May said British police officers known as "spotters" who are trained to identify troublemakers have been sent to France and British officers trained in public order will also be deployed.

The Home Secretary said that for "operational reasons" she would not reveal how many officers are being sent across the Channel.

Mrs May called violence involving England supporters was "deeply disturbing" and blamed Russian fans for instigating much of the worst of it.

Some 50,000 supporters of both England and Wales are due to descend on Lens, while many fans are also expected to be staying in Lille.

Mrs May said the Foreign Office is advising England fans without tickets not to travel to Lens and Lille and said England and Welsh supporters "should be on their guard" when Russia play Slovakia on Wednesday afternoon.

Back at home, West Mercia Police says it is not planning to put on extra security in Worcester for the clash between England and Wales.

There were no reports of disorder in the city on Saturday night related to the England vs Russia fixture.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police told the Worcester News: "There will be no extra security. Police will react in their normal way should any trouble occur."