THE Football Association hit back last night at claims that England players snubbed supporters during a North-East training session.

About 100 fans turned up to see their heroes in action at the Middlesbrough training ground at Hurworth, near Darlington, over the weekend.

The players were using the facilities for three days to prepare for the European Championship qualifier against Slovakia, at Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium on Wednesday.

But they are facing a storm of protest after fans said they were kept so far away from the training session by security guards that they had to use binoculars to catch a glimpse of the players. They said the England team did not sign autographs or even wave at supporters outside the ground, many of them children.

Parent Joanne Todd, of Darlington, who took her children to see the players, has written to the FA criticising the treatment of fans.

She wrote: "They certainly gave the impression of being prima-donnas to whom it was too much even to wave to the kids."

A spokesman for the FA said it was not possible for every training session to be open so that fans could meet the players.

He said: "The sessions at Hurworth are part of a long, solid programme working towards Wednesday's match, which is a very important game for us. We are inviting select groups of schoolchildren into Middlesbrough stadium on Tuesday as part of a consultation with Middlesbrough Football club.

"It is something that we take very seriously. Unfortunately, not every session can be open to the public but we are trying to make at least one session open so children can enjoy one really special day, but unfortunately that can't take place every day."