PUB landlords planning to show England’s World Cup games have been given a pre-match caution by Basingstoke police.

Licensees have been requested to employ doormen and provide plastic glasses if they want to air the exploits of the squad managed by Fabio Capello. The tournament, in South Africa, starts on June 11.

But disgruntled pub bosses have warned the extra cost of providing bouncers could put some off showing England matches.

Martin Hillier, landlord of The Winkle, in Winklebury Way, Basingstoke, told The Gazette: “This is a yellow card. Surely they should be helping us, not hindering.

“It takes the shine off the whole thing. Ours is a community pub and you want to get the community support going.”

Mr Hillier, chairman of Licensed Premises Watch, said his fellow landlords were given the advice by Basingstoke police licensing officer Claire Wanless.

He said employing three security staff at £18.50 an hour for the duration of England games would cost several hundred pounds.

He added there had never been any football-related trouble in his pub, but it would be more likely to occur among rival supporters watching domestic matches than World Cup games.

England are in a group with Algeria, Slovenia and the USA and he said he was unaware of any Algerians, Slovenians, or for that matter, Americans drinking in at his bar.

He added: “We were told the advice was specific to England games.

“If so we can choose a different team to support, possibly Mexico – that’s the one that has come to the top every time with our regulars.

“We are trying to laugh about it because we think it is ridiculous.”

Peter Edney, media and corporate communications officer at Hampshire Consta-bulary, said: “We have contacted licensees in Basingstoke to find out if they’re going to be showing England games.

“We advised them about getting plastic cups and door staff.

“It is only advice. It’s not going to be a condition unless it is already a condition of the premises for showing football.”