Hillsborough jury shown footage from 1981 'crush' incident

Thirty-eight fans were injured in a crush on the same terrace eight years before the Hillsborough disaster

Crowds run across the pitch during the match (ITN)

Jurors at the inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans at the Hillsborough stadium have been shown footage of a near-fatal crush at the stadium years before the 1989 disaster.

Jurors at the inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans at the Hillsborough stadium have been shown footage of a near-fatal crush at the stadium eight years before the 1989 disaster.

The jury was told thirty-eight fans were reportedly injured in the "crushing incident" before watching a seven minute clip of footage from the game.

Tottenham Hotspur fans spilled on to the perimeter track at the Leppings Lane end of the ground and others climbed fences shortly after the start of the 1981 FA Cup semi-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the inquest heard.

Det Supt Neil Malkin, the senior investigating officer for Operation Resolve - the police criminal investigation into the Hillsborough disaster – said the incident could have been linked to Tottenham scoring a goal, causing the crowd to surge.

Perimeter gates were opened, the jurors were told, allowing between 100 and 250 fans to leave the terrace and a total of 30 fans were subsequently treated by St John Ambulance for minor injuries.

Others were taken to hospital for treatment with two people suffering broken arms and one breaking a leg.

Hillsborough was not used for FA Cup semi-finals until 1987. In 1989, the gate was opened to reduce congestion at the Leppings Lane turnstiles, heard the jury, and 96 Liverpool fans died in the resulting crush.

The hearing in Warrington continues.