Euro 2020: Fans storm Wembley Stadium in anticipation of England v Italy final

Fans have breached security cordons, charging into the perimeter area of Wembley Stadium, before the start of the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy.

A day of alcohol-fuelled festivities began with rowdy scenes in central London and a crowd of about 65,000 made their way to the national stadium for the game, with flares let off in railway stations and singing on trains

About two hours before the game, fans burst past stewards and some reached the concourse, while bottles were thrown from outside the perimeter.

Witnesses say some security staff were attacked and entry to the stadium was halted for more than 20 minutes, while order was restored at the entrances.

Outside the ground, several thousand fans continued drinking and partying in the area immediately adjacent to the entry points, with empty beer cans lining the street.

Police say they helped the security teams at the ground.

"Wembley security officials have confirmed there were no security breaches of people without tickets getting inside the stadium," the Metropolitan police say.

But some witnesses saw isolated cases of fans running through the seating areas inside the ground, being chased by security.

Inside the ground, there was a party atmosphere, with fans singing 'Sweet Caroline' and 'Three Lions' - the unofficial anthem of the England team.

Police had previously urged supporters not to travel to Wembley if they did not have match tickets and complained of cases of flares being set off within the vicinity of railway stations in London.

Across the capital, many had set up camp early, with thousands queuing to get into pub gardens before lunchtime and others packed into city squares.

Hours before the 8pm local kickoff, Wembley Way was crammed with supporters all the way from the underground station to the stadium.

Beer cans and bottles flew through the air, as acrid smoke from flares drifted through the crowd and supporters, dressed in England shirts of various vintages, sang and chanted. The exuberant scenes at the stadium were replicated across the city.

Gus McKay, a 53-year-old England fan from Bradford-on-Avon, joined the party at Leicester Square in central London.

"It feels incredible," he says. "I've been waiting all my life."

Dave Woodall from York echoed the sentiment: "I was one when we won the World Cup and it's a dream that I never thought would happen, so I'm like a kid at Christmas.

"It's the best feeling ever. I had to come down for the day, I couldn't miss this."

England are bidding to win their first major title, since lifting the 1966 World Cup. 

Reuters