A football club have banned four fans from watching games after trouble at a match in Faversham yesterday.

Toilets were vandalised and flares were thrown onto the pitch at Salters Lane during Faversham Town's Ryman league fixture with Hastings United.

The away supporters who caused the problems were thrown out and Hastings have subsequently apologised to their hosts, who won 3-0.

A statement on united's website, published yesterday, said: "The club's board of directors regret to report that, following two incidents that occurred during this afternoon's Division One South fixture away to Faversham Town, it has taken the decision to ban four individuals from attending all Hastings United matches in future, this ban to become effective immediately.

"Officials from Faversham Town drew the club's directors' attention to the fact that toilets at the Salters Lane ground had been vandalised, while flares were later thrown onto the pitch while the game was in progress.

"The individuals responsible were identified both by home officials and by Hastings United supporters in attendance and were subsequently ejected from the ground.

"The club would like to extend apologies to everyone at Faversham Town for these incidents and to thank them for their co-operation and understanding in dealing with matters."

It added that the club were committed to making sure their supporters behaved in an appropriate manner whether playing home or away.

Ray Leader, Faversham Town's chairman, said: "I feel sorry for them as they had nothing better to do than come along to a football ground and spoil everyone else's afternoon.

"They had had too much to drink and a couple of them threw flares on the pitch which was not acceptable to us and not acceptable to Hastings either.

"They broke one of the toilet seats off and punched a couple of holes in the plasterboard wall.

"Just after half time they were removed from the ground - it was stamped out very quickly. We do not want that kind of behaviour at Faversham and I don't think any other Ryman club does."

He added: "We've never had that kind of problem at Faversham before. It's a community club and we do not have or want these types of problems.

"A couple of lads there were very upset and offered to pay for the damage and felt guilty their pals had done what they had done."

Mr Leader said the opposition chairman had pledged that Hastings would pick up the repair bill.