VAUXHALL Motors FC have sacked one of its players after he was featured in a Panorama investigation into the behaviour of staff at a Wirral special school. 

An undercover reporter spent almost seven weeks at Life Wirral in Wallasey where she filmed and recorded staff using homophobic language to describe pupils and mocking them for various learning disabilities.

The BBC broadcast its findings on Monday evening (June 17) with the school subsequently facing mounting criticism from Wirral Council and education groups as well as a police investigation. 

The school has confirmed five staff have been suspended.

Panorama reporter Sasha Hinde posed as a work experience student working with sports staff at the school.

Ellesmere Port-based non league side, Vauxhall Motors FC, have now confirmed that they have withdrawn the registration of an unnamed player following the programme. 

A spokesperson for the club, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One West, said: "Vauxhall Motors Football Club is shocked and saddened to see the footage on the recent Panorama programme. As a club we hold the highest standards when it comes to equality and diversity and any sort of abuse has no place in society.

"We will take whatever steps necessary to protect the individuals involved with the club and as a result we have withdrawn the registration of a player following information we have been made aware of. The club will not be making any further comment on the matter."

Places at the school - for secondary school age children - cost between £50,000 and £150,000 a year per child, depending on the support they need.

Wirral Council has paid out more than £2.2m in total since the school opened in 2021. Ofsted has rated the school “good”.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police added: "We are aware of video footage recorded by an undercover BBC journalist at a school in Wirral.

"We are currently investigating the matter and are in contact with the BBC, the school, the local authority and concerned parents.

"As an investigation is underway it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."