Intro:

English and French supporters have been enjoying the Ukrainian city of Donetsk ahead of their Euro 2012 encounter.

Script:

Ahead of England's Group D clash with France at Euro 2012, supporters of the respective nations have been soaking up the sunshine and the beer in Donetsk.

With the build-up to the tournament having been dominated by talk of endemic problems of hooliganism, racism and price fixing within Ukraine many England fans have stayed away, with just 4,000 fans making the trip over in an official capacity.

However, those who are in the country supporting the Three Lions have had only good things to say about their hosts thus far.

UPSOUND (English), Derl Blarelock (right) and Barry Plats (left), England fans from Carlisle:

Blarelock: "Very nice, very nice people. Very nice place."

Plats: "The press back in the UK have really put the country down, but since we've got here we've had a great time. Lovely people, we've had no trouble, hopefully it will stay like that."

Donetsk is the most easterly city at the championships and as such hasn't been the easiest place to get to, with one French supporter not impressed by the dangerous nature of the Ukrainian roads after driving from Dunkirk.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dominique Colarc, French fan from Dunkirk:

"The most difficult thing is to cross (travel in) Ukraine. The routes are very, very difficult to take. It's a catastrophe, it's dangerous, we are not used to it."

France's game with England is followed by the co-hosts Ukraine taking on Sweden later on Monday.