Leicester and England striker Jamie Vardy has attacked Twitter trolls for their "shocking and vile" sexual threats against his one-year-old daughter.

The player's fiancee Rebekah Nicholson posted a photograph of their little girl on the social media site on Sunday evening, wearing the club's home shirt with "Daddy" emblazoned on the back.

"Thanks to @CuteCute_co_uk for Sofia's gorgeous Leicester Blue clip!" she wrote.

But the tweet prompted comments of a violent, sexual nature from some users on Twitter.

She responded to one and said: "There are no words for people like you! You need locking up."

A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said a formal complaint about "an abusive message" had been received by the force.

"Leicestershire Police is investigating a report of malicious communication being sent via social media.
"Enquiries remain ongoing and the force is liaising with Leicester City Football Club."

Vardy posted a screenshot of the threats and described them as "shocking and vile".

Other Twitter users joined the footballer in criticising the "disgusting" tweets.

A spokesman for Leicester City Football Club said: "We have offered our full support to Jamie and his family in dealing with this shocking abuse and referred the matter to the police."