The case against six football fans accused of attacking police was thrown out after a court heard that video evidence was missing, writes Rebecca Smith.

Police witnesses disagreed over whether a video of the incident had been taken.

When it could not be produced, Judge David Morton Jack stopped the trial at Oxford Crown Court and discharged all six.

The fans had been charged with violent disorder at the Britannia pub, in London Road, Oxford, towards the end of a match against Reading on March 7 when police in riot gear cleared the premises. It was alleged the fans threw glasses, tried to punch officers and one threatened to pull a policeman off his horse.

In the dock were Robert Mechan, 32, of Kennet Road, Headington; Geoffrey Hoare, 30, of School Road, Finstock; Simon Hill, 34, of Whitworth Road, Selhurst, London; Dale Bowman, 28, of Ballard Chase, Abingdon; Steven Salter, 35, of Lambourne Avenue, Aylesbury and Felix Browne, 31, of Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford. They all pleaded not guilty.

WPc Zoe Spedding, of Milton Keynes police, said she had seen another officer taking a video of the incident.

But two other officers, Pc Andrew Livsey and Pc Bill Espie, said they had seen no-one taking a video. They were taking still photographs and making a commentary on to audio tape. None of the photographs showed the defendants committing an offence.

Paul Mitchell, defending Hoare, said if a video was taken of the Britannia incident, it should have been available to the court.

He said: "Several defendants put forward that they were assaulted by the police officers. It may be why such a video might be something that the police would not wish to be seen."

Judge Morton Jack said there was a "terrible twist" in the police evidence.

He said: "I am satisfied that on the balance of probabilities, there was more likely than not a video camera at the Britannia."

In the same trial, Stephen Dillon, 32, of Gurl Close, Headington, Oxford, was acquitted on Monday after the prosecution offered no evidence against him.