They visited eight bars at the weekend and said that four were selling alcohol out of hours and allowing drunkenness on the premises.

One pub was ordered to close amid fears of disorder because of what police said was a shortage of door staff and customers described as "very drunk".

Officers said while most pubs and bars were well run, a few caused trouble.

During the initiative, police also carried out a sweep of licensed premises before Leicester City's game against Leeds United on 1 May.

Superintendent Glenn Brown, police match commander, said: "I am extremely disappointed that our endeavours to minimise the risk of alcohol-fuelled disorder in and around the football ground was jeopardised by some licensees who clearly broke the law by opening their licensed premises early."

He added: "However, robust action, including prosecution, will now be taken against those licensees who chose to flout the law."

James Bancroft, spokesman for Leicester Pubwatch, said: "We take a very pro-active stance on anti-social behaviour and our social responsibility.