AN Auld firm derby to be held at the Reebok Stadium has been given the police's highest risk rating.

Officers are taking no chances with the charity clash between Rangers and Celtic and have given it a category three rating.

This is based purely because they do not know how many fans will attend.

Police will treat the derby, featuring stars from yesteryear, as they would any major fixture where they anticipate trouble.

Chief Insp Dave Wolstenholme, head of policing matches at the Reebok Stadium, said: "It is an unknown quantity to us, but we are expecting a big crowd.

"We will make sure we have the resources in place."

Games between the current Celtic and Rangers teams are notorious for their enthusiastic and sometimes threatening atmospheres.

But organisers behind the event being staged in Bolton on Sunday, September 2, said the match would be supported in a friendly spirit.

David Dishon, from Auld Old Firm Ltd, said: "There was not one arrest at the last of these games at Ibrox and we sold more than 20,000 family tickets.

"We put the Chief Commander of Strathclyde in touch with Greater Manchester Police and he told them there was little trouble in or around the ground."

The first game between the Rangers and Celtic Legends was played in January before a crowd of 52,000, with the Ibrox side running out 4-1 winners.

The clash at the Reebok Stadium could feature players like Mark Hateley, Andy Goram, Ray Wilkins, Frank MacAvennie and Danny McGrain.

Mr Dishon said Bolton had been chosen as the venue for the second game because it had excellent facilities and the North-west is full of football fans, many who support the Scottish clubs, who will want to watch the match.

He said: "We are expecting a sell-out.

"We think quite a few thousand supporters will come down from north of the border as well, because there will be no games that weekend because of international fixtures."

The game will help raise funds for the Gift of Life charity. Tickets, priced £10 for adults and £5 for children/concessions, are on sale now from the Reebok Stadium ticket office, or by calling 01204 673601/0161 832 1111.