Manchester United and neighbours City in blazing row

Contrasting accounts of the drinks, or lack of them, given to firefighters is the latest unlikely battleground between warring Manchester clubs, United and City. City are claiming firemen who had just spent a number of hours putting out a considerable blaze next door to United's Carrington training ground were told they would have to pay for the drinking water the crew had requested following their thirsty work. The light blue version is that the firemen then knocked on the door of the neighbouring City training ground, where they were given bottled water and a crate of energy drink Lucozade for free.

And City have a letter from the Trafford fire service thanking the club for their hospitality. United, who say the fire was put out with water supplied from a bore hole in their grounds, insist they gave the firemen a free crate of water and also have a thank-you note from the fire crew.