A REDDITCH man has been charged with setting off a flare at Aston Villa’s game with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

John McAuliffe, 51, of The Ridgeway, New End, Redditch, has been charged under the Football Offences Act with setting off a flare.

Thomas Carter, 28, from Goring-By-Sea, has also been charged with assaulting a club steward by beating.

The steward received medical attention for minor injuries.

Both men are due to appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on February 6.

A man aged 23 and a boy aged 17 have also been identified in relation to separate incidents, one in which water from a bottle was thrown at other fans, and another one in which a flare was thrown on to the pitch during the game.

PC Darren Balkham, Sussex Police Force's football liaison officer, said: "We worked in close co-operation with the club and safety stewards to ensure these isolated incidents were safely and effectively dealt with and enquiries are continuing where necessary.

"They didn't reflect the superb support from over 99 per cent of fans from both clubs."