By Sam Lyon

Twenty20 matches are very popular with fans

The England and Wales Cricket Board is "determined to stamp out" unruly behaviour from supporters following a spate of incidents at Twenty20 matches.

This year's competition has seen the likes of Andre Nel and Robert Croft abused by fans when in the outfield.

It prompted Peter Willey, chairman of the umpires association, to call for grounds to employ extra security.

And an ECB spokesman told BBC Sport: "We have been looking at the problems and are determined to stamp it out."

Willey insists something has to be done to control supporters who get out of control after drinking too much.

He says there is adequate protection at the big grounds but not at the smaller grounds used by counties for some Twenty20 matches.

The safety of players and umpires is all-important Dickie Bird

"There might be some clubs who will be reluctant to employ security guards, but how expensive is a life? Those clubs would not want to be sued," he warned.

"This has happened because the weather has been so bad. In past years the sun has shone, but this season spectators have sat around drinking pints."

Willey's views were backed up by former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who told BBC Radio Wales: "Robert Croft (who also complained about unruly fans) has hit the nail on the head, you've got to get more security and policing at grounds."

"This will cost a lot of money but it's the only answer as the safety of players and umpires is all-important."

Glamorgan spinner Croft, in an exclusive interview aired on BBC Radio Wales' Sportstime show last Saturday, said he was subjected to "over the top" verbal abuse at Somerset the previous night.

"At the moment it's only verbal abuse, but a year down the line it could be physical unless we nip it in the bud now," Croft had warned.

Last week there were incidents of theft and stones being thrown at Middlesex's match against Hampshire at Southgate.

Nel complained of being racially abused while playing for Essex in a Friends Provident Trophy match.

The ECB spokesman added: "It was the ECB who suggested at a recent extraordinary general meeting that we host a special seminar to share best practice in crowd management and to seek to eliminate unruly crowd behaviour.

"Of course, Peter Willey is a very well respected umpire and his views on this matter will be taken into account, as will the views of other umpires and officials.