A pub landlady who was fined for displaying an offensive football scarf above her North-East bar now faces the possibility of losing her licence.

Yvonne Mann, 42, could be forced out of the pub business if police object to her being the licensee now that she has a criminal record.

Her husband Terry yesterday reacted angrily, saying: ''If they are going to take away someone's livelihood for a scarf, that's ridiculous.''

Mrs Mann, of Fawden, Newcastle, appeared before magistrates earlier this week. She was found guilty of a public order offence for displaying a scarf emblazoned with the words "Sunderland are s***e".

Newcastle Magistrates fined her £400 and ordered her to pay £180 costs.

The scarf was above the bar in Mrs Mann's pub, the Adelphi, in Shakespeare Street, Newcastle, before the Newcastle United versus Sunderland match in February.

Three police officers on routine licensing checks spotted the scarf the following month.

Northumbria Police said it was the licensee's choice to take the matter to court rather than accept a caution, but her liquor licence would be up for review.

A spokeswoman said: "The defendant had the option of being cautioned but instead chose for it to go to trial. A decision regarding her holding a licence for the premises will be given further consideration."

Magistrates will have the final say if police recommend that she loses her licence.

Mrs Mann was not available for comment but her husband said: ''We have got a house and a mortgage and they want to take that away.

''We have three daughters, one is expecting twins. They cannot do this to us.

"That's somebody's livelihood they are playing with."