ENGLAND'S match against France had Knutsford gripped on Sunday night - including the town's yobs, vandals and thieves.

Knutsford police and firemen did not receive a single call for more than four hours as the nation watched England's opening match of the Euro 2004 championships.

"It seems the thieves watched the football as well," said Sergeant Kevin Fryer.

No one called police between 6pm and 10.15pm andthere was only one false burglar alarm in Glebelands Road.

Knutsford's pubs were packed with fans watching the game, but there was no trouble afterwards despite England's last-minute disappointing 2-1 defeat.

"You often find during the football matches that people don't call up the police to complain about anything," said Sgt Fryer.

"It doesn't mean that there wasn't any crime at all because everyone was watching the football and may have reported it the next day."

Knutsford's firemen attended an incident at 4.20pm, but were not needed again until 10.07pm.

And the town ambulancemen's last call came in at 3.27pm - just before football parties started across the country.

Forgotten

"On the face of things it was very quiet during the football," said their spokesman.

But the night was busy for some in Knutsford.

More than 100 people arrived at the Legh Arms in Chelford Road to watch England's opening match.

England were leading 1-0 with just three minutes remaining, but the atmosphere changed when France scored twice in injury time to win 2-1.

The Co-op in Princess Street sold out of flags on their first day and yesterday had only one England T-shirt left.

This week Tatton MP George Osborne celebrated the show of patriotism, but suspected it was not just because of the England football squad.

"I suspect that it is because the Welsh and the Scottish have made much more of their identity in recent years," he said.

"The English want to make sure that we're not forgotten. There's no danger of that now."

Tomorrow (Thursday) England captain David Beckham will lead his side out against Switzerland.

Yesterday Knutsford police were assessing the risk of another defeat.

"If games are assessed to be a risk then we will have more staff on," he said.