RECORD numbers of football troublemakers have been banned from travelling to Portugal for next month's European Championships.

Latest figures reveal that more than 100 hooligans from the North-East and North Yorkshire are barred from going to domestic or international matches.

The Home Office said 2,188 people are subject to football banning orders - compared to only 100 for the last tournament in Holland and Belgium four years ago.

Last night, police told of an unprecedented security operation ahead of Euro 2004, and promised more would be hit with the restrictions before it starts on June 12.

Four Hartlepool supporters accused of racist chanting at a game against Oldham Athletic will appear in court tomorrow, while two more Middlesbrough fans are expected to be dealt with next week.

Detective Sergeant Ian Fawcett, of the Cleveland Police football intelligence unit, said: "We have got 32 banned now in the force and we have got quite a lot going through the criminal justice system and the civil courts."

Cleveland Police will be working with colleagues from Durham to monitor departures from Teesside Airport.

Northumbria Police will have extra patrols at Newcastle Airport and the ferry terminal at North Shields, North Tyneside, as they did for England's friendly match in Sweden in March.

Home Office Minister Caroline Flint said: "There will be an extensive police ports operation prior to the tournament to identify any potential troublemakers and the Portuguese have made clear that anyone else who is known to pose a risk to public order will be denied entry. We believe we've done everything we can to ensure a safe and enjoyable tournament."

Det Sgt Fawcett said: "It is an unprecedented operation and we are sure the network links between all the forces and the ports are really good.

"It is a really finely-tuned co-ordinated approach - almost like a ring of steel - which we have had the opportunity to test with the recent friendly games."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "These operations are not just about Euro 2004. We are also looking towards the World Cup in 2006 in Germany and all the qualifying games."