A large police presence is planned for this weekend as Ipswich prepares to host 30,000 football fans for the first East Anglian derby in more than four years.

The game, which will kick off at 12.30pm at Portman Road on Saturday, will be the first since Norwich won 3-0 at Carrow Road in February 2019.

The Canaries went on to win the Championship title and Ipswich were relegated but the Tractor Boys are flying high in the table after promotion and hunting their first derby victory since April 2009.

Tickets for the fixture are sold out and police on both sides of the border are preparing to try and keep the peace on a day when passions always run high.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich and Ipswich will go head-to-head at Portman Road this SaturdayNorwich and Ipswich will go head-to-head at Portman Road this Saturday (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images)

Officers will be patrolling the railway station and the town centre, as well as being on hand to direct fans to the stadium, with Suffolk Police warning Christmas shoppers to be wary of the town centre being very busy.

Ahead of the match, Greater Anglia has announced it will operate additional services starting at 9.48am from Norwich which will call at Diss and then Ipswich. 

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After the match, an additional train will leave Ipswich at 3pm before calling at Diss and arriving at Norwich at 3.42pm.

In addition to the special trains, the normal, scheduled half-hourly service between Norwich and Ipswich will continue with the usual two trains per hour.

Eastern Daily Press: Ipswich fans were escorted to Carrow Road by police ahead of the last East Anglian derby in February 2019, which Norwich won 3-0Ipswich fans were escorted to Carrow Road by police ahead of the last East Anglian derby in February 2019, which Norwich won 3-0 (Image: Newsquest)

Norwich fans are encouraged to travel on the special services or services leaving Norwich at half-past to benefit from the fastest journey times.

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The last meeting of the clubs in 2019 saw police thank supporters for the "good spirit" shown at Carrow Road, with just two Ipswich fans arrested for "threatening words and behaviours" towards Norwich supporters.

There were no arrests after the 1-1 draw at Portman Road in September 2018, although five spectators were ejected from the stadium.

Police horses and riot vans are common sights on derby day as Norfolk and Suffolk officers work to keep supporters apart wherever possible.