England fans in riot

The mob caused thousands of pounds of damage as they smashed shop windows and tried to set fire to cars.

They fought running battles with police for two hours and were finally dispersed when mounted officers and others in full riot gear charged at them.

At least six fans were injured and 14 were arrested in an area of bars in Albufeira, a coastal resort about 120 miles south of Lisbon popular with British holidaymakers.

Police captain Manuel Jorge said: "We felt it necessary to go in in force to restore order." He said the trouble flared after midnight when a group of fans, who had been drinking all day, were refused entry to a bar and started pelting police with missiles.

Mr Jorge said: "A lot of the rioters were apparently England fans but there were others involved."

He called the trouble "lamentable," particularly after the good behaviour of England fans the previous night. Following the clashes officers cordoned off streets and patrolled with dogs.

The Home Office confirmed that 12 Britons had been arrested and detained and would be appearing in court today charged with public order offences and resisting arrest. A Portuguese man and a Russian were also arrested.

Football's ruling body in Europe, Uefa, which had threatened to throw England out of the tournament if there was any major trouble involving England fans, said it would be looking at reports of the disturbances in Albufeira.

But spokesman William Gaillard said there was "no question" of England being banned over the clashes. He added: "This is the kind of thing that happens around the Mediterranean. It was not directly linked to a match or to the location of the England team."

The Home Office, which led the operation to stop known English hooligans from travelling to Portugal, called the violence an "isolated incident".

Officials in Whitehall believed the trouble flared spontaneously and was not organised by hardcore thugs.

It came within 24 hours of England supporters being widely praised for their restraint and good humour in the wake of the defeat by France.

Then the lack of trouble was viewed as a great success for both the massive police intelligence operation to stop known hooligans getting to the tournament and the softly-softly approach of the Portuguese police.

More than 2,500 men in England have been banned from going to Euro 2004 while 36 have been prevented from boarding planes to Portugal and a further two have been turned back from Faro airport.

Following the France defeat it was hooligans at home that caused the trouble. More than 400 were involved in clashes with the police in Croydon after a day of drinking. Officers arrested 13 youths and men aged between 17 and 23 for public order offences.

Other flashpoints saw Hertfordshire police draft in extra officers to deal with about 150 drunken fans in Cheshunt while 200 youths went on the rampage in Birmingham city centre.