Lifelong Barnsley fans are bitterly angry at the policing of the derby clash at Hillsborough last weekend.

They claim the Reds supporters were "let down" and left in a vulnerable situation when South Yorkshire Police failed to ensure they could safely get to coaches taking them home after the match with Sheffield Wednesday.

The fans say although police separated the rival fans immediately after they left the ground, they were then left with no protection as they headed to the coaches lined up on Leppings Lane.

Jeff Wroe, 59, from Elsecar, said simply: "There was a single solitary copper standing there - we were surrounded by aggressive Wednesday fans who started to get threatening and all we had was one policeman."

Jeff, who has been supporting Barnsley "since I was a lad" added: "As they started to attack and kick people I actually shouted at that police officer 'can't you help us?' and he replied 'I'm on my own'.

"To be honest I think he was more frightened and intimidated than we were, and what could he do? He was left there with no support."

Lester Dickinson, 49, also from Elsecar, has been a Reds fan since he was six. "It was horrible," he said.

For more stories like this, see today's Barnsley Chronicle.