Dozens of Russian 'ultras' clashed with England and Wales fans chanting 'We hate Russia' during a fresh round of violence in the centre of Lille today.

French police used pepper spray as two groups of supporters squared up in the northern French city – just hours after a separate flare-up at a bar.

Punches were thrown during the brawl in the early hours of this morning after England fans had left a nearby pub.

Russia's 'hyper violent' thugs had earlier ignored UEFA's threat to ban their country from Euro 2016 as they attacked English and Welsh supporters near the city's train station.

Russian 'ultras' clash with English fans during a fresh bout of violence in the centre of Lille

French plainclothes police used pepper spray as two groups of men squared up in the northern French city - just hours after a separate flare-up at a bar

Punches were thrown during the clash in the early hours of this morning after England fans had left a nearby pub

A French plainclothes policeman carries a teargas gun and shouts at England and Russian fans during a scuffle in the city centre

Hundreds of England fans are staying in Lille ahead of the crucial qualifying match in Lens against Wales on Thursday.

Russia play Slovakia in Lille today, only 29 miles from Lens.

The brief outbreak of violence flared in Lille's Grand Place after midnight when bars stopped serving alcohol.

Many of the fans had been drinking solidly for over six hours.

One England fan - wearing a white T-shirt - was separated from his group and he was kicked and punched repeatedly by the violent Russian group.

Following the fight Russian supporters mocked the English fans for 'running away' and celebrated their 'victory' despite being 'only five against 20'.

Two Russian supporters have been held following the scuffle in Lille's Grand Place.

Four other Russian hooligans were arrested in Lille after being found with an arsenal of weapons.

Earlier in the day, a handful of Russian fans had tried to goad English fans gathered outside a bar near the main railway station.

In return, one England fan stamped on a Russian flag, while another pretended to wipe his bottom with the flag.

As riot police watched from a distance, four to five Russians approached the chanting England mob, who were running through their repertoire of chants from 'F*** the IRA' to 'I'm England till I die'.

Welsh fans also joined the group in a show of British unity as chants of 'we're England and Wales, f*** off Russia, we're England and Wales', along with 'We hate Russia' could be heard.

One masked Russian fan wore a T-shirt with the words 'Tour de France' and 'f*** Euro 2016 on the front - complete with a map of the host nation, while others sported T-shirts emblazoned with 'Orel Butchers – Storm over Europe' on the front.

Russian 'ultras' have attacked English and Welsh fans in Lille this afternoon after 'hyper violent' thugs ignored UEFA's threat to ban their country from Euro 2016

Provocation: A Russian fan was pictured launching a chair towards a group of supporters at a bar in Lille

One masked Russian fan wore a t-shirt with the words 'Tour de France' and 'f**k Euro 2016 on the front - complete with a map of the host nation

The 'Orel Butchers' are a well-known Russian hooligan group, affiliated to Lokomotiv Moscow.

A few punches were thrown and a plastic chair sailed through the air.

By the time police moved in, the Russian fans had dispersed.

Police later arrested a Slovakian fan who had been inside a neighbouring bar next to the Taverne Flamande.

England fan Mark Crowe, 25, said: 'Everyone was standing outside the bar having a good time, English and Welsh together. Then these guys walked up and started on us. They were Russian and wearing masks. The police did nothing.

‘Admittedly the English threw a couple of chairs back at them, but if you are attacked you have to defend yourself.'

Bar owners in Lillie only served alcohol in plastic cups so there could be no repeat of the carnage in Marseille where bottles were used as weapons and hurled at each other by opposition fans.

With thousands of England fans expected to cross the Channel to watch the match against Wales tomorrow French authorities have imposed an alcohol ban.

Shops selling alcohol will be closed until Friday while as many as 350 bars in Lille and Lens will shut early today and Thursday.

A man was pictured lying on the ground outside a bar in the northern French city on the same day that Russia was fined and threatened with being thrown out of the tournament

Witnesses said a group of Russians appeared to provoke English fans who were in a bar near Lille's central train station before chairs were launched through the air

One England supporter - wearing a Rooney shirt - was seen being marched away in handcuffs by police.

The FA has expressed serious concern about security in Lille and the potential for clashes between rival fans.

Michele Lalande, prefect of the northern region, announced there would be a drinking ban in parts of Lille and around the stadium.

He also said no beer would be sold in bottles and warned those arrested for violence would be deported.

A Russian fan could be seen hurling a chair towards a group of England fans drinking at Le Palais de la Biere bar

Violent scenes unfolded as the Russians moved in and attacked the English fans outside the bar

England fans travelling without tickets were last month urged to travel to the larger city of Lille instead of Lens so they could take advantage of a bigger designated fanzone.

Assistant chief constable Mark Roberts, the lead for football policing in the UK, had said: 'If you’ve not got a ticket, don’t go to Lens. Go to Lille instead, where there’s a bigger fanzone.

'We know Brits will get where water can’t in terms of sporting events but people will not get in stadiums without a ticket. If you’ve not got a ticket, don’t travel.'

A group of Russian fans could be seen provoking England supporters in the centre of Lille this afternoon

Pictures showed two sets of fans facing off outside a bar, with chairs strewn across the pavement on the Place de la Gare, in central Lille

The attacks came despite Russia being threatened with expulsion from the tournament if violence continued in the stadiums and they were fined 150,000 Euros.

Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko described the punishment as 'excessive' while the team's striker Artem Dzyuba downplayed the role of the Russians saying England fans were 'no angels'.

In another development, armed French police circled a coach of 50 Russian supporters - including Alexander Shprygin, notorious far-right head of the Russian supporters union - who were making their way to Lille and said it would deport them - only for their thuggish fans to boast they had targeted the wrong group.

Gloating Russian Ultras claimed they had swooped on the wrong coach and vowed to 'smash' Lille and Toulouse, where they play Wales on June 20.

Pictures appeared to show England and Wales supporters trampling on a Russian flag outside a pub in Lille

Goading: An England fan pretends to wipe his bottom with a Russian flag as English and Welsh fans chant and drink outside a pub as they gather ahead of the England v Wales game Thursday in Lille, France

A police officer passes as English and Welsh fans chant and drink outside a pub in central Lille today

A group of Russian 'Orel Butchers' supporters approached England and Wales supporters this afternoon

England fans sing in Lille city centre this afternoon. England and Wales fans had earlier ben caught up in violent clashes with Russian fans

A posting by Vadim Fedorovsky read: 'They deported those who did not participate. And those who took part will smash Lille and Toulouse. Happy watching'.

Another said: 'Let them deport these peaceful supporters led by Shprygin. The important thing is the main mob come to the place in the optimal numbers.'

Gleb Kovalenko posted: 'It's funny of course. Not one of these guys in the bus took part part in the fun in Marseille, those who did are either already in Lille or will be there tomorrow morning.

'They are not fools to get on a bus as a crowd. They are moving in groups of three to five people on trains and in rented cars.'

A Russian fan wearing a black t-shirt with the words 'Orel Butchers' on the back was seen approaching England and Welsh supporters

French police were called in amid violent scenes outside a bar with tear gas apparently used to disperse crowds

A group of Russians appeared to provoke English fans who were in a bar near the northern city's central train station, witnesses said

The bus carrying Russian fans was stopped after raids on addresses in Marseille and Cannes, it is claimed.

Six were placed in a holding centre ahead of being deported while another 35 were refusing to get out of their bus, French authorities said.

Far right leader Shprygin later tweeted saying he had left the bus and was in a police building.

He had been identified by Fare Network, the organisation that monitors racism in stadiums, as a leading figure in introducing neo-Nazi views and practices to the Russian football scene since the late 1990s.

A Russian fan with a 'Russians No Surrender' T-shirt is led off the bus that was surrounded by French police

Russian fans are ushered off the bus that was stopped by gendarmes in Mandelieu near Cannes

The bus was carrying fans from the official Russian supporter's group, including women

Speaking earlier today, he said: 'They want to deport almost 50 people including women who did not take part in anything.

'The police are making up for their mistakes three days ago. We are in a bus in Cannes and we have been blocked in by riot police with machine guns and it was pushed towards some closed area. We are not going anywhere for the time being and are waiting for the consul.'

Later on, he said: 'Police are now dragging us out of the bus, they've announced deportation. No reasons are being given. There are 50 people in the bus.

'This is some kind of show, none of us were detained in Marseille riots, but for some reason they're targeting the official fans union delegation. It's a circus.

'Leaders of fan groups are on the bus. All to be deported.

'Police are getting dressed in their equipment and preparing electric shockers.

The bus was surrounded by French riot police and stopped in Cannes as they were on their way to Lille

French riot police have circled a bus carrying 50 Russian fans heading to Lille for Wednesday's game

'It is nonsense. They won't give us water and won't allow to switch on air conditioning. It is so hot and two people are unwell. They don't let us go to toilet. The situation is tense.

'We are waiting for representatives of the Russian Consulate.'

On Sunday night Shprygin claimed in a tweet that the Russian supporters union's hotel had been raided and that 40 armed French police had stormed their rooms, taken their passport details and photographed everyone.

Shprygin has been travelling with the official Russian FA delegation at Euro 2016 but is considered by the Fare network to be a main player in Russia's network of extreme-right ultra fan groups, the Guardian reported.

Since developing the Russian Supporters Union in 2007, Shprygin had appeared to tone down his rhetoric.

Police stopped a bus carrying Russian fans who they believe were involved in the attacks on English fans

But he provoked outrage recently when he said he wanted to 'see only Slavic faces within the Russian national team' and how there was 'something wrong' with a team photo published by French player Mathieu Valbuena as it contained 'very many' black faces.

He has also been photographed giving a Nazi salute with a singer from Russian far-right rock band, Korrozia Metalla.

The beginning of the tournament has been marred by violence with English and Russian supporters clashing for three days in Marseille as hooliganism reared its ugly head.

There were clashes before the match as several hundred English and Russian fans squared off in the Old Port district, hurling beer bottles and chairs and drawing volleys of tear gas from riot police.

Then, inside the Stade Vélodrome Balaclava-clad Russian thugs - wearing gum shields and brandishing truncheons charged at the English fans at the final whistle - as well as firing a flare gun into a section of English supporters.

Russian fans waved flares in the terraces - both Russia and England have been threatened with expulsion if violence continues

The hoard of Russian supporters can be seen launching an attack on England fan Andrew Bache (circled), 51, who suffered a cardiac arrest during the assault and has been put into a medically-induced coma

Russian thugs are seen punching an English fan repeatedly and kicking and stamping on their victim's face

Another moment shows three Russian thugs smash chairs off the head of one young man in a purple hoodie, before the man wearing the GoPro camera stamps on his head

Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said the Russian ultras were 'extremely well-trained' and 'hyper-violent'.

But Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia's equivalent of the FBI, claimed his French counterparts were unable to handle Russia's 'normal' football fans in Marseille because they were more used to policing 'gay pride parades'.

His comment followed an earlier outburst from a senior Russian football official and leading politician, who apparently praised his country's hooligans for defending Russia's honour.

'I don't see anything wrong with the fans fighting,' read a post on Twitter on an account in the name of Igor Lebedev.

'Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!'

Two members of Orel Butchers later told Channel 4 that it was England fans in Marseille who first started stealing their flags. They said they were the ones who were provoked and then responded.

Both Russia and England have been threatened with expulsion from the summer finals if there is any more fighting.

Russia's second game in the competition is against Slovakia - in Lille - on Wednesday at 2pm.

England host Wales the following day in Lens - only half an hour away.

There was a subdued mood among supporters as they arrived in Lille and many have chosen not to wear their colours.

The streets of Marseille were littered with broken bottles and chairs following the clashes between Russian and English fans. A 16-year-old supporter was among six Britons who will face trial today over the violence

Karl Fairbrother, 25, from Derby said: 'No one wants to be seen wearing an England shirt as it could make them a target for any Russians. Mine is in the bag.'

Another England fan, who asked not be named, said all the supporters taking the Eurostar train from London to Lille only talked about the violence.

'All the chatter on the train wasn't about the match against Wales but the Russian hooligans.

'You could see that they came prepared for the violence. They were in a different league to the usual England hooligan who trains on beer and chips.

'THE ENGLISH ARE GIRLS!' RUSSIAN THUGS TAUNT ENGLAND FANS AMID FEARS VASILY THE 'KILLER' IS ORCHESTRATING THE VIOLENCE Russian thugs have branded English football fans 'girls who don't know how to fight' after violent clashes in Marseille at Euro 2016. Dozens of hardline Russian hooligans known as Ultras – including a gangster called Vasily – are thought to have been behind the violence surrounding Saturday's 1-1 draw with England in Marseille. They are on the loose and it is feared they will attack English fans again in Lille. Vasily is a member of the neo-Nazi gang Spartak Gladiator firm and has the group's emblem tattooed across his chest. Dozens of hardline Russian hooligans known as Ultras – including one gangster called Vasily (pictured) – are thought to have been behind the violence in Marseille. Vasily wears a gum shield branded with nickname 'killer' Vasily is a member of neo-Nazi gang Spartak Gladiator Firm and has the group's emblem tattooed on his chest The 36-year-old also wears a gum shield branded with his nickname 'killer'. He said: 'Starting from 2010, the soccer supporting culture in Russia significantly changed - we entered a phase of "forest fights" - Polish format. This is like some kind of sport, and it's very popular. So popular that only the best Polish firms can compete.' The Ultras, many dressed in black, wearing balaclavas and brandishing truncheons, attacked fans in large groups on Saturday before police could arrive. In February a Russian hooligan named only as Yuri was quoted glorifying Russian football violence and warning of what would happen at Euro 2016. 'We are hard men, many from the army and police,' he said, 'Not soft English men in their Lacoste clothes and girls' shoes. Fans from all clubs, Moscow, St Petersburg, anywhere, will all be on same side. 'We fight in the woods and train and fight at matches. England fans will have no chance. Russia is number one. We like beer and girls too just like you but fighting is number one.' Keith Moore, a 52-year-old England fan from Manchester, said: 'We were being hit constantly. 'We were just standing around having some beers and a bit of food on Saturday afternoon when around 25 Russians steamed in. There are fears Russian Ultras like Vasily are preparing for more clashes with England fans this week Ready for battle: Russian ultras are not only the most vicious species of hooligan around, but also the best organised — partly because many have daytime jobs that involve wearing uniforms 'You could easily see who they were – they had black T-shirts with Russian writing on and were all extremely muscular. 'They didn't muck about – they picked out English blokes to attack and then ran off when the police arrived.' After the game, the Russian gangs took to social media to mock England fans for fleeing. There are now fears the paramilitary-style groups are preparing for more clashes with England fans on Wednesday and Thursday. Police in Lille say there is a 'high risk' they will target the English in the city ahead of Russia's game against Slovakia. England then play Wales the next day in Lens, just 20 miles away. Pictures posted on social media appear to show Russian fans kicking and England supporter in the head before Saturday's match in Marseille A Russian fan in a black shirt aims a kick at the head of an England supporter on the pavement followed by a punch. His friend then leaps up and lands another sickening kick while he is on the floor Before the match, hundreds of English and Russian fans fought pitched battles in Marseille Advertisement

'I've followed England all over the world for 20 years and this is the first time I've seen people genuinely scared about what could happen.

'No one wants to wear an England shirt for fear it will attract attention.'

Squads of police patrolled the main town square and side streets as well as fan zone where the Russia match will be screened for those without a ticket. Unlike Marseille there are only a handful of open-air bars in Lille.

Downing Street has said extra British police are being sent to France ahead of England's match against Wales on Thursday.

The additional police being deployed are specially trained in dealing with public disorder and football hooliganism.

Extra transport police is also being sent to Lens after a request from the French authorities.

'I am the only Englishman among an army of Russians': MailOnline reporter Nick Fagge joins the fearsome Russian hooligans for their second match

The red, blue and white flag of Russia waves in my face. I am stood still as all around me fanatical supporters sing the national anthem of their motherland.

High in the rafters of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille I am the only Englishman among an army of Russians.

Dressed in bear skin hats, stripped navy shirts and military berets, they watch as their team struggles against Slovakia in their second match of Euro 2016.

A chorus of 'Rossiya, Rossiya' envelopes me from beery breath all around. Somehow these fans have found a way to beat the UEFA alcohol ban.

A young bearded fan in his 20's in a red Soviet Union football shirt sits down next to me. I doubt he can remember the demise of the USSR, but he and his friends - dressed in cut-off jeans shorts, black T-shirts and wrapped up in Russian flags - know the humiliation to national pride it caused.

Rising to their feet they bellow out one heart-felt terrace anthem after another. Thousands of others join them.

I cannot understand the words - a mix of guttural, slippery and silky sounds - but their passion is obvious. These boys are proud of their football, their team and their country.

And they will do whatever it takes to defend them.

Silence descended in the stand as Slovakia scored their second goal. Despite all their rousing songs, impassioned appeals and insults at the referee, the crowd could not inspire the Russian team to an equalizing goal.

There are not the ugly scenes of Marseille - no fighting, spitting, kicking.