Revealed: The controversial item that West Ham have BANNED ahead of crunch derby clash with Tottenham

West Ham have banned fans from bringing a controversial item into the London Stadium for their derby clash with Tottenham this weekend, according to reports.

The two teams will meet for the first time this Premier League season, with no little bad blood between them.

As well there being just 11 miles between the two stadiums, Saturday's match will mark the return of former West Ham star Mohammed Kudus to his old club on the heels of his eye-catching summer move to Spurs.

With a view to ensuring that the scope for trouble is greatly reduced, 'increased security measures' are set to be in place in east London.

Even without the ramped-up security for the clash, the banned item has often attracted ire from match-going fans.

As per the Sun , the divisive half-and-half scarf featuring the colours of both teams will be taken off fans should they take one onto the premises.

Security measures have been ramped up for West Ham's Premier League clash with Tottenham

One move by the club has been to ban half-and-half scarves - a typically touristy souvenir

Half-and-half scarves are often sold by unofficial vendors outside of football grounds up and down the country - but many football fans have long derided them for marking out the wearer as not a committed fan of either side.

As such, they often make a special memento for tourists or fans who have travelled to the stadium as a rarity.

But in a message sent to West Ham supporters, the club stressed that no such item would be permitted into the ground on Saturday.

'Supporters who have purchased half-and-half scarves from unofficial sellers will be required to hand them over to security staff at the security checkpoints and these scarves will not be returned,' the message read.

'Supporters wishing to buy a scarf for the match are advised to head to the West Ham United Stadium Store, where they can be purchased.'

As well as banning half-and-half scarves, additional securities including extra checks at turnstiles and the banning of reusable bottles will be in place.

West Ham are thought to be ultra-vigilant over ensuring that home fans are restricted to home sections inside the ground.

The return to Mohammed Kudus to the London Stadium will add spice to an already fiery derby meeting between the two clubs

When asked about the decision to keep the scarves outside the ground, head coach Graham Potter's response was a lighthearted one.

'You can imagine I've given that zero thought,' Potter said on Thursday.

'I imagine our supporters will have West Ham scarves. Solely them.'

Potter will instead be focused on kicking on after their first win of the season, which came ahead of the international break.

West Ham had endured a nightmarish start to the campaign after back-to-back bloodlettings against Sunderland and Chelsea.

But a striking 3-0 thumping of Nottingham Forest helped lift the side after difficult Carabao Cup defeat - and in part hastened the departure of the Tricky Trees' former coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

Tottenham will head to east London with similar intent, with Thomas Frank's side eager to get back to winning ways after defeat to Bournemouth at home two weeks ago.