Police have launched an investigation after a group of Bristol Rovers fans were heard hurling racist abuse at Leicester City supporters.

The incident, in which some followers of the home side chanted, "You're a town full of P****", marred the Foxes' one-nil victory away from home on Saturday.

It is the second time in four months that Rovers fans have aimed racist taunts at City.

Similar chants were also shouted by Rovers fans the last time the two teams met, on November 1.

Foxes fan Jamie Deering, 21, from central Leicester, was at the match at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol, on Saturday.

He said: "I heard the chants coming from the other end of the ground. It's quite shocking and, although you get it a lot outside after the match, you don't usually hear it during the game.

"You expect the fans to wind each other up, but when it's racist abuse it's going too far."

Another fan who travelled to the game said: "It always happens to our fans at away games. At Bristol it was quite bad.

"It's not nice to have the chanting and we do normally have Asian fans and families in the crowd and you feel especially bad for them."

During the game, one Bristol fan was ejected from the stadium and police are investigating the incident.

Kirsty Pugh, press and public relations officer for Bristol Rovers, said the fan's forum had reported hearing similar racist language at November's match at Walkers Stadium.

She said: "During the incident on Saturday, several stewards went into the Blackthorn End, accompanied by the police, to speak to the small minority involved. One person was ejected.

"We put out a number of appeals in our match day programme and in the local media following a similar incident during our visit to the Walkers Stadium in November, but, unfortunately, a small minority still chose to vent their childish frustrations in that way.

"There is no room in football for racism."

Despite the removal of one fan from the stadium, police said there was not enough evidence to make any arrests. They have appealed for help to bring the culprits to book.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "Officers at the match became aware of a small group of people using racist language.

"Police worked with stewards to try to identify the people involved.

"Avon and Somerset Constabulary have an excellent relationship with Bristol Rovers Football Club and together we will investigate all instances of inappropriate language being used.

"Anyone found guilty of using such language can expect to be dealt with robustly and anyone who knows the people involved should call on 0845 4547000."

John Williams, of Foxes Against Racism, said: "I'm glad some action was taken. Because rival fans know how strongly against this sort of thing we are, I think that they do use it against Leicester City fans."