Football fans on a train headed for Margate are alleged to have been singing racist football chants about former England star Sol Campbell.

Police were called to Ashford International station to deal with "disruptive passengers" after one concerned traveller reported the behaviour to Southeastern.

The woman, who was on the 9.12pm service from St Pancras to Margate, tweeted to the rail firm: "I am on the 21.12 from St Panc just stopped in Stratford. The train is going to Margate.

"Football fans singing racist chants about Sol Campbell. Please can we have a guard walk through to advise them how they might like to travel on a train?"

Southeastern replied to say it would have "enforcement staff" waiting for the train at Ashford.

"We take reports very seriously," it said. "The On Board Manager is in the rear part of the train and will check that half. I have also advised our eyewitness to have enforcement staff available at Ashford for when the train gets there."

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: "Officers attended and they conducted a search on the service with the on board manager.

"No males were located and there was no trace of the males at the station.

"Ashford International station was searched by all attending officers and no further allegations were reported to officers who were present or the on board manager."

Southeastern added that the train was only held back five minutes.

Shortly after, however, police were called to deal with an incident on the 8.25pm service from St Pancras to Ramsgate, which was being held at Faversham station.

It caused another train to be held back, but by 10.30pm both had resumed their journeys, although behind schedule.

Earlier on in the evening, shortly after 7pm, a train was held at Canterbury West after a passenger fell ill onboard.

Services heading towards Ashford were affected until the passenger was eventually taken off the train and treated by ambulance crews.

Details of their condition have not been released.

Reports of the racist chanting come just a week after England and Man City star Raheem Sterling spoke out about racism in football after he was abused by Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge.