SEVEN football fans have denied taking part in racial chanting at a match in Darlington last month.

The Leyton Orient supporters, five of them youths, travelled from London to appear in Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

They are accused of directing racist chants towards Darlington striker John Williams during the match against Orient, at Feethams, on March 31.

Jason Paul Douglas, 34, of South Woodford in London, and Darren Wayne Kingaby, 34, of Leyton, London, both pleaded not guilty to the charge, brought under the Football Offences Act.

The five youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are all aged 16 or 17 and appeared in court with their parents. They also denied the offence.

Defence solicitors for the accused successfully applied to remove a bail condition banning the supporters from entering any football ground in England and Wales.

It means the fans will be able to continue watching Leyton Orient as they push for promotion from Division Three of the Nationwide League.

If found guilty of the offence, they could be banned from football grounds for three years.

The defendants were released on unconditional bail, and the case adjourned until Thursday, May 17, for a pre-trial review.