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A British football fan has become the first fatality of Euro 2016 after falling 26ft off a beachside promenade.

The 24-year-old Northern Ireland supporter, who has not been identified, died in hospital in the southern French city of Nice on Saturday night.

French Police said the incident happened ahead of Northern Ireland's clash with Poland on Sunday when the man, who 'had been drinking heavily', allegedly tried to walk along the top of the promenade barrier.

A spokesman for the Nice force said: "There was very little space at the top, and the man lost his balance. He fell on his head, and suffered severe injuries.

"Many fans were out on the promenade, and were drinking heavily when the man fell from the promenade. The victim was taken to Nice hospital but has since died," the spokesman said.

Northern Ireland fans were drawn into fighting in Nice at around the same time, as European Championship thuggery spread.

French riot police moved in after local Nice youths hurled bottles at the supporters in bars and restaurants around Place Massena, and in streets nearby.

(Image: Bob Hall/Flickr)

It was a Castel Plage, a few hundred yards away, that the supporter fell on to the beach and suffered serious injuries. Around seven other Northern Irelands fans were also hurt in the fighting.

A British police officer travelling with the Northern Ireland fans said: "About twenty to thirty Nice youths started throwing bottles at the Northern Ireland fans.

"Some bottles were thrown back, some punches were thrown. French police arrived to contain the situation."

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There were an estimated 10,000 Northern Ireland fans and an equal number of Polish fans in the city for the game, and alcohol was readily available.

Hundreds of English and Russian fans fought pitched battles in the streets of Marseille ahead of their countries' opening match on Saturday too, leaving two England supporters in a critical condition in hospital.

The trouble led to France’s Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, ordering Euro 2016 host cities to introduce an alcohol ban in the 48 hours before each game.

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(Image: Yann Quercia/Twitter)

Mr Cazeneuve said: "It is absolutely necessary that the national federations whose supporters create incidents of this nature be punished for what happened inside the stadium, and also outside."

The Uefa executive committee has already threatened both England and Russia with disqualification if the violence continues.

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"We urge both the Football Association and the Russian Football Union to appeal to their supporters to behave in a responsible and respectful manner," Uefa said.

Europe's football governing body said Russia had already been charged with crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and letting off fireworks.

(Image: Yann Quercia/Twitter)

As the players left the pitch at the end of the 1-1 draw in Marseille, Russian fans were seen charging into a section occupied by English supporters and punches were thrown.

Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko on Sunday criticised the behaviour of his country's fans following the disturbances and conceded Uefa was likely to impose a fine, but he also laid the blame on the match organisers for failing to separate supporters.

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Lens, the northern town where England will play their next game against Wales on Thursday, is already imposing an alcohol ban on the day.

Antoine Boutonnet, the police commander who is in charge of security for Euro 2016, said the England-Wales match was ‘particularly sensitive’ because of the large number of fans from the UK likely to travel to France, many without tickets.