Suffolk Constabulary have sent letters to known Norwich City hooligans telling them not to attend Wednesday's Portman Road international between England and Croatia.

The small number of fans targeted, less than 20, have been identified by Norfolk Police and are those who have been convicted of football offences or known to be involved involved in hooliganism.

Matches between Town and Norwich have seen problems in the recent past with the Cobbold Stand extensively damaged in 1998 by away supporters.

Superintendent Carl Puiy, in charge of the police operation on the day, says that the police are keen to address local rivalries: "My concern is not so much about England hooliganism. It is more about what will happen as a result of local rivalry.

"I've written to known, high-risk supporters in Norwich informing them in the strongest possible terms not to come to Ipswich on Wednesday.

"We have also got some spotters coming down to the match from Norfolk Police for the evening. Their job is to identify known troublemakers from the city and inform us who they are and what they are doing.

"There will also be spotters from the England spotting team to identify those who have been known to cause trouble at internationals."

Suffolk Constabulary will have 600 officers on duty during Wednesday, although less than a third of those will be at the ground.

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