Riot squad called after man lights up in pub

It wasn't exactly the dramatic finale one cricket fan was expecting.

Having installed himself in his local pub to watch England play India, John Vaughan was enraged when the channel was switched over to football just as the cricket was reaching its thrilling conclusion.

So Mr Vaughan lit up a cigarette in protest. When he refused to extinguish it, staff pressed a panic button behind the bar.



And a few minutes later six riot police officers wearing protective gear stormed the pub.

Mr Vaughan had been watching the one-day international at the Copper Pot pub in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, last month. The game was about to finish when the channel was switched to the England versus Israel Euro 2008 football qualifier. Mr Vaughan said yesterday: "The cricket only had ten minutes left, but the football wasn't even going to start for another 45 minutes."

Warwickshire Police confirmed officers had been sent to the pub on September 8 following reports of a man "smoking and being aggressive". A spokesman said: "They explained why he should not be smoking, asked him to leave and he did so happily."