A football fan who set off a flare at a Reds match has avoided a ban.

Halifax Town supporter Mark David Fusco, 37, ignited the flare at his side's National League encounter with Wrexham AFC at the Racecourse on February 10.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting at Wrexham Magistrates Court, said CCTV cameras identified Fusco, who was arrested at half-time and admitted the offence when interviewed.

He told police in interview that the flare had been passed to him, but would not say by whom, and added he thought it was "some harmless fun", Miss Jackson said.

District judge Gwyn Jones heard North Wales Police had applied for a football banning order, which has a minimum length of three years.

Fusco, of Popples Drive in Halifax, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a flare.

Stephen Edwards, defending, said the judge may take the view that Fusco did not fall into the category of a football hooligan.

He was a self-employed builder who had no previous dealings with the police.

Fusco was a lifelong Halifax Town supporter who had followed them through thick and thin, Mr Edwards said.

He travelled to Wrexham on an official supporters bus and knew nothing of any flares or smoke bombs in the vehicle.

It was a very competitive game and it seemed Fusco became excited and decided to pull the strip to ignite a flare which had been placed under the seating area, which emitted blue smoke for about 30 seconds.

It had not been a dangerous situation, Fusco was not being aggressive and there were no concerns that it had been thrown.

As soon as the smoke had subsided he passed the flare to a ground steward and went to have half-time refreshments.

It was a shortlived incident in the heat of the moment, the court heard.

Fusco was almost in tears when told about the possibility of a banning order, Mr Edwards said, and asked the judge to accept that there was no indication he engage in any bad behaviour at Halifax Town or elsewhere.

The judge opted not to issue a banning order and fined Fusco £500 with a £50 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

He told Fusco lighting the flare was entirely foolish and not harmless fun.

But he took into account that Fusco had not committed any previous acts to bring the game into disrepute.