THE visit by Bristol Rovers has passed without any major incidents after torrential rain took the heat out of what looked set to be an intense clash.

There were minor scuffles between police and supporters before the game - bottles were thrown and a flare was set off as home and away supporters tried to confront each other.

Officers moved in to break up the crowd and a Swindon fan was dragged away and arrested in connection with the flare.

A steel barrier, used previously for the visit of Millwall last season, had been erected across the County Ground car park in a bid to keep rival fans separated.

Officers from Wiltshire Police were joined by colleagues from as far away as Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey as part of an operation aimed at preventing a repeat of past meetings between the sides which have ended in violence.

However it was mother nature that proved to be the most effective peacekeeper on the day – a deluge descended on the ground leading to the match being abandoned after 60 minutes.

The Rovers fans, sat in the uncovered Stratton Bank End, had no escape from the weather and many began to head home at the halfway point.

They had arrived earlier in somewhat different conditions with around 100 fans making their way to The Savoy pub on Regent Street to set up camp.

Surrounded by large numbers of police officers equipped with riot helmets, the Rovers faithful belted out their repertoire of not so family friendly songs including a charming ode to Swindon’s famous magic roundabout.

The fans were later escorted down Princes Street and along Fleming Way – as they approached the County Ground the mood intensified and some fans attempted to break from officers and run towards the waiting Swindon supporters.

It is normal practice at the end of games where there is a risk of disorder for the away supporters to be kept back in the ground after the final whistle to allow the home fans to leave.

However the police appeared to be caught somewhat off-guard by the decision to abandon the game leaving home and away supporters to stream out towards County Road side by side.

Despite this there were no real altercations, the same fans who had been angrily fronting up to each other just an hour and a half earlier were more focused on drying out, navigating floods and finding a warm place on a train or a dry seat in a pub.

Wiltshire Police said that only six people were arrested in what was a successful policing operation, all those were for low level offences.

The abandoned game will now have to be rescheduled, likely to a midweek date in the coming months.

The authorities will be hoping that Saturday’s not-so-dry run will bode well for the future fixture.