TRANMERE Rovers have defended their policy of charging junior Wanderers' fans full price at Monday's Bank Holiday clash at Prenton Park.

Scores of furious Bolton supporters complained when juveniles were forced to pay £15 at the turnstiles while home fans paid just £3.

One father who took his five-year-old son angrily accused the Birkenhead club of "exploitation".

But Rovers' rapped back today, pointing out that juniors buying tickets in advance were charged only £3.

"We try to encourage kids to come to the game," a Rovers' spokesman insisted, "and we offer visiting juniors a chance to buy tickets at £3.

"But we have a limited number of turnstiles at the away end and can only offer one price admission on the day. We have turnstiles for ticket admission and turnstiles for cash admission and we can't mix prices on the same turnstiles so we charge just one price. That policy will apply at Wolves when we go there. We make our fans aware of that in advance.

"We warned Bolton when we sent them their tickets, which were £15 for adults, £8 for pensioners and £3 for juniors that there would be no concessions available on the day. Obviously it's a blow if people aren't aware of it but we try our best to let visiting clubs know in advance."

Wanderers say they were only told of the 'no concessions' policy in the middle of last week and immediately tried to warn fans. They sold tickets at concession prices at the Reebok up to 12 noon on the day.

Football League rules state that clubs cannot charge visiting supporters a higher admission price than home fans for comparable accommodation.

A spokesman confirmed that the rule applied to juniors but said it was often difficult to regulate. "We can't comment on why Tranmere charged full price for juveniles on the day but £3 to go into a First Division game is an unbelievable price. It's just a shame that not as many people were aware of it and were able to buy their tickets in advance."

There will be no 'tit-for-tat' retaliation when Tranmere visit the Reebok for the return fixture in December. Wanderers charge visiting fans £14 in the lower tier of the South Stand and £17 in the upper tier with concessions at £8 in both sections.

"Our policy is exactly in line with the regulations of the Football League," chief executive Des McBain confirmed. "We charge visitors the same price we charge our own fans for an equivalent seat."