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Everton fans were attacked with metal chairs and battered by up to 100 hooligans who swarmed on the pub where they were gathered in Lille last night.

The supporters, in the French city for their club’s Europa League tie tonight, were then sprayed with CS gas by police who ignored their pleas for help.

Eyewitnesses said the Blues fans were enjoying a peaceful afternoon and evening at the Australian bar when the terrifying unprovoked attack happened.

Today Merseyside police said they were aware of the incident and said its officers are in Lille to "support the policing operation of tonight’s game".

A doorman who works at the bar said some of the hooded thugs even filmed what happened on their mobile phones.

The ECHO understands from our EFC reporter Greg O’Keeffe who is in Lille, that many Everton fans were injured.

(Image: Andrew Teebay)

He said: “Everton fans were enjoying themselves and it had been peaceful with kids playing football all afternoon.

"The doorman of the Australian bar told me that around 10.30pm up to 100 hooded Lille hooligans swarmed from side street and attacked EFC fans smoking outside and it was totally unprovoked.

“Lille thugs used metal chairs to batter fans outside and tried to smash their way into the pub to attack those inside. Local police were on scene within minutes and indiscriminately used gas on EFC fans asking for help."

The doorman, a former soldier, said he and his colleagues had enjoyed friendly banter with the Everton supporters throughout the afternoon, and there was a wide age range of fans gathered including dads with their children playing football on a grassy area across the road.

He said: "The atmosphere was nice all day. The Everton fans were singing, showing us their flags and having fun. All very respectful.

"In the evening they watched the Liverpool game and towards the end of that match it happened. It was bad.

"The Lille hooligans just appeared from the Place Louise de Bettignies across the road, from a side street, and just ran at the pub.

"There were some Everton fans outside smoking and they got caught cold.

"The hooligans picked up chairs we had stacked up outside and attacked them while others used them to smash windows and try to get inside.

"We had to try and stop the Everton supporters inside from getting out to help because it would have got far worse. I went out to try and drag them in.

"I saw one older English guy being punched by about three Lille hooligans. His face was bleeding badly."I am so sorry for what happened."

The doorman said that police were on the scene quickly, but began to use CS gas sprays indiscriminately on both the Lille hooligans and their victims.

"Some of the Everton fans were trying to explain," he added. "They were saying 'There are children inside," but the police were swearing at them and wouldn't listen.

"I saw them spray one Everton fan for no reason. He was just trying to reason with them."

Brothers Simon and Steven Wakenshaw, sons of former Everton player Robbie Wakenshaw, were also outside when the Lille fans appeared from a side street and sprinted towards them.

Simon was hit repeatedly on the back and neck with a chair as he tried to help his brother who was being kicked in the head.

Steven, 26, who is originally from Crosby but now lives in Tenerife and arrived in Lille on Wednesday lunchtime, said: “It was horrific. Like a scene from Green Street. It came out of nowhere.

“We tried to get back inside but the bouncers had locked the doors. The police came very quickly.”

*Keep up to date with everything going on in Lille today with our dedicated liveblog