IT only happens once every four years but they were certainly dressed for the occasion at the Lord Protector in Huntingdon, pictured right. Regulars and their families settled down to watch England kick off their World Cup campaign. But even the face pain

IT only happens once every four years but they were certainly dressed for the occasion at the Lord Protector in Huntingdon, pictured right. Regulars and their families settled down to watch England kick off their World Cup campaign.

But even the face paint on these youngsters' faces could not disguise the pre-match nerves and the worry about the outcome as England played Paraguay.

There were enormous cheers when, within four minutes of kick-off, David Beckham's curling free kick ended up in the back of the net when Paraguay's Carlos Gamarra headed in for an own goal.

And that was the only goal of the match. However, on a beautiful summer's day, crowds everywhere (some 10,000 people watched on a giant screen on Parker's Piece in Cambridge) were pleased with the result.

Cambridgeshire Police headquarters in Huntingdon said there were no arrests related to the football. A spokesman said: "It all went off very well and everyone behaved themselves."

England's next game is tomorrow at 5pm against Trinidad and Tobago.