A FOOTBALL club has promised to take action after three of its supporters were ejected from an away fixture after throwing an object at a referee.

The Hartlepool United fans were removed from Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road ground after a bottle was thrown at referee Scott Mathieson on Easter Monday.

The game - which finished in a 2-2 draw and dented Pools' League One play-off hopes - was held up for about five minutes following the incident.

The plastic bottle narrowly missed Mr Mathieson.

No arrests were made but three fans were removed from the ground by stewards, while another supporter voluntarily followed them.

A Lancashire Police spokesman confirmed: "Something was thrown at the referee.

"As a result, three men were ejected from the ground. No arrests have been made but we are making inquiries and we are waiting for the referee's report."

Pools fans were involved in violence in a pre-season game in Holland last July and were warned over their future conduct after Darlington manager David Hodgson was hit by a coin in May 2000.

"We haven't got the full details of the incident but, once we have, we will take the appropriate action," said a spokesman for Hartlepool United.

"We had fabulous support down there and we wouldn't like to think that any minority could tarnish that."