A child was taken to hospital after police sprayed CS gas in a Derby pub when fighting broke out between rival football fans.

Derby County fans and West Ham United supporters clashed in Strutts pub, on the corner of Traffic Street and London Road, Derby, about half an hour before the 5.35pm kick-off at Pride Park on Saturday. Eye-witnesses claimed trouble started when Hammers fans began throwing full glasses of drink at Rams fans inside the pub. Sharon Crawford, of Derby, was attending her first football match and was at the pub with her boyfriend, who did not want to be named. She said: “There were about 100 people in the pub. When we arrived there seemed to be just Derby fans but then a group of West Ham fans came in. I knew they were West Ham fans because they had London accents. “They started throwing full glasses at the Derby fans, who started doing the same back. There were police already inside the pub and one officer started spraying what I thought was pepper spray. My boyfriend got sprayed, I couldn’t believe the officer did that because there were babies and children in the pub. We left at that point but as we were leaving an ambulance arrived.” A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that a child was taken to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary after being sprayed with CS gas. The physical effects of CS gas include skin irritation, severe burning in the eyes, burning in the nose and throat, coughing, sneezing and difficulty breathing. No-one from Strutts, which closed shortly after the violence, would comment. Prior to the match, police officers were stationed on the doors of the pub and signs were taped on the windows advising away fans that they would not be allowed in. Chief Inspector Peter Lewis confirmed that trouble had broken out in the pub between both sets of fans, but said it was the only incident of disorder in the city officers had encountered before or after the match. He said: “There was an incident of disorder which is currently being investigated. A police officer did use CS gas towards people who were displaying aggression towards officers. We intervened to prevent any escalation and it was necessary for CS to be deployed. “CS will affect the person who it has been discharged at, but it is airborne and it can go to people who are some distance away and they get mild effects.” He added: “I have spoken to the parents of the child and from their point of view they are very grateful to the police for the action taken in the pub. Their child suffered no ill effect or harm and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.” He said several arrests were made and police were appealing for any witnesses to call them on Derby 290100.