POLICE have stopped eight Bury fans from travelling to the World Cup in Brazil by making them hand in their passports.

Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Police wrote to Shakers supporters who are subject to football banning orders, asking them to hand in their travel documents before the start of the tournament last Thursday.

The orders prevent people going to stadiums for any league match in the UK or any England international match at home or abroad.

Police will retain the passports until the end of the tournament when fans can collect them.

In total, 210 fans who support football clubs in Greater Manchester have banning orders and 183 of those have passports.

The breakdown is 71 for Manchester United, 45 for Manchester City, 23 for Bolton, 11 for Wigan, 10 for Rochdale, nine for Oldham and six for Stockport.

Greater Manchester Police have sent an officer to Brazil to keep an eye out for troublemakers from the region.

Officers are also based at Manchester Airport to check no-one with a ban flies to Brazil.

A police spokesman said: “We are in regular contact with people under banning orders.

“Most recognise the conditions, regret their actions that led to receiving one, and understand that ignoring the orders will only lead to further bans, fines or even jail.

“Football banning orders are working and are playing a key role in cutting incidents of hooliganism and disorder at football matches.”

Such banning orders are handed out by courts to those proved to have caused or contributed to football-related violence or disorder.