FOOTBALL supporters have been warned they face a match ban and conviction if they bring fireworks or flares to York City matches.

Fans have let off fireworks in both ends of the ground on five occasions at Bootham Terrace this season, leading North Yorkshire Police's Football Liaison Unit to repeat their advice to anyone considering bringing pyrotechnics to a match.

Sergeant Colin Sutherland said that by bringing a 'pyro amnesty bin' to the ground, he hoped to remind supporters that anyone caught inside the ground with pyrotechnic devices would face a banning order and criminal conviction, while anyone who abandoned them outside the ground would face no further action.

Sgt Sutherland said: "Up until this season there had been nothing at home but the way the national trends are it was inevitable it would happen at York as well.

"I'm satisfied it's raised awareness. Who knows how many it's stopped bringing in but if it makes one person look at it and think 'I don't want to miss my club for three years or worse', then that's a good start."

Fireworks were let off in the home end during the matches against Bury and Hartlepool, while visiting supporters at the Carlisle match let off three devices in the away end, said police.

While nobody has yet been arrested for any of these offences, police are reviewing CCTV.

Three-year banning orders and potential criminal charges will be issued to any supporters who take fireworks or pyrotechnics into the ground.

Sgt Sutherland said: "We're not here to catch people out. A lot of people are very suspicious of our motives with the amnesty bin, but they are very clear. I don't want to see anyone criminalised through ignorance of the law.

"The danger in the ground is if they decide to let one off or throw one or hold it, once they're in the ground CCTV will capture them. When it comes to possession of pyrotechnics inside football grounds, our hands are tied, there's no discretion on our part, as there is outside the ground, as we have to follow the legislation."