FOOTBALL fans who caused disorder in a York City centre pub had been told to go there by police, The Press has been told.

Senior police sources have said that after moving fans on from Micklegate, police advised them to go to Lendal Cellars, although an official spokesman yesterday denied that.

Police in riot gear later had to cordon off St Helen’s Square after a large group from Hull became violent. The group had travelled to York ahead of York City’s friendly match with Hull City.

Four people have since been arrested.

City centre councillor Brian Watson said yesterday: “I suppose it is out of the way, so it may have seemed the safest place to accommodate them and police could have controlled them, but these people that come across to cause trouble are not fans of anybody.”

Staff at Lendal Cellars yesterday declined to comment.