Police claim to have foiled a plan by English and German football hooligans to organise a mass brawl in Hamburg’s red light district on Tuesday night.

German and British officers specialising in football violence discovered the plan and detained some 250 people - 100 Germans and 150 English - who were in the city before Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Bremen.

Ulrike Sweden, a spokeswoman for Hamburg police, told Reuters the men were so-called category C football fans who pre-arrange fights with rival hooligans. A search of the men had revealed items including telescopic truncheons, a hatchet and protective equipment such as shinguards.

Sweden said 18 men, both Germans and English, remained in custody and investigations were continuing. "We don't expect any more trouble in Hamburg but we'll have to see what happens tonight in Bremen," she added.

A spokesman for Bremen police said on Wednesday morning: "The situation seems calm so far but you never know what can happen if the alcohol starts flowing. Ten mounted officers had been drafted in from Hanover to help in the policing operation, he added.

About 150 police, including officers from Hamburg, Bremen, Dortmund and London were involved in Tuesday's operation.