More than 30 football fans clashed with stewards following the New Year derby game between Margate and Dover Athletic.

Kent Police said trouble flared soon after the final whistle, when a number of away supporters tried to re-enter the Hartsdown Park stadium and became aggressive towards ground staff.

Officers were called at around 5pm on Saturday and travelled with the group as they returned to Dover by train. No arrests were made.

Jim Parmenter, Dover chairman and former Margate chief, said: “Hundreds of Dover fans attended the match and the vast majority were a credit to our club.

“No individual has been reported to us but our fans know that we will not tolerate misbehaviour at home or away.

“If anyone is identified and reported to us as having behaved in this way we will not hesitate to ban them from our ground. However we have no jurisdiction at away grounds.”

More than 1,300 people watched Dover, who top the Ryman Premier League by some 20 points, beat Margate 2-0 in Saturday’s match.