World Cup revellers will be offered sticks of rock in the hope it will diffuse any trouble.

Pubs and clubs across Folkestone which are showing matches have been given the red, white and blue sweets.

The word England runs through the middle and each stick has a message like Punch the Air Not Your Mate and Enjoy the Night, Don't Fight, on the outside.

Shaun Taylor, Shepway council's anti-social behaviour manager, said 5,000 sticks had been bought and distributed across the district.

"This was done at the last World Cup four years ago and licensees wanted it back," he said.

"It is aimed at reducing violence and getting people away from flashpoints.

"We hope drinkers will have a laugh with their mates over the messages as they leave the pubs and clubs so it will take away any emotion.

"It is a light-hearted approach and there was a good feedback last time."

Money for the rock came from the Home Office.

Read all our coverage of how the World Cup is going down in Kent here.

Support our boys in South Africa by downloading our free World Cup poster here.