Twenty-six people were arrested at the Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers football match after police were pelted with missiles.

Staffordshire Police had mounted huge operation for the Midlands derby on Saturday evening.

The force cancelled all leave and drafted in officers from other constabularies to help police the game at Stoke's Britannia Stadium.

During pre-match searches of fans and coaches, officers uncovered fireworks and knives.

It is a sad reflection on the city and the club that the police have to deploy a massive amount of officers Tim Gallimore, Stoke City Fans' Forum

During the game, there were a number of attempted pitch invasions and missiles were thrown at police.

The arrests were for breaching banning orders, drink and drugs offences, pitch invasion and threatening behaviour.

The police described the operation as a big success.

Tim Gallimore, chairman of the Stoke City Fans Forum, accompanied one of the police commanders.

'Eventful policing'

He said: "It is a sad reflection on the city and the club that the police have to deploy a massive amount of officers for people to be able to safely enjoy the event."

Superintendent Steve Loxley, who led the operation, said the policing had been "eventful".

"The significant number of arrests show we do not tolerate violence in our around our football grounds," he said.

Televised match

"Our prime objective was to ensure that people attending the Brittania Stadium did so safely, and also to minimise the opportunity for public disorder by a small, but significant, number of criminally-minded individuals who claim to follow the two clubs."

Phil Rawlins, one of the Stoke City directors, has criticised the timing of the televised match and fears Stoke-on-Trent's image will have suffered as a result of the trouble.

The game kicked-off at 1730 BST.