Police believe a Facebook profile which mocked the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans was hacked.

After Watford's 3-0 victory over Liverpool on February 29, an image of Watford captain Troy Deeney was edited onto a background of Liverpool supporters who were crushed during the Hillsborough stadium disaster in 1989.

The image was posted in a Facebook group from a profile with a Watford crest, before being shared and quickly condemned by football fans, and the sister of one of the 96 victims.

Louise Brooks tweeted to Watford FC: "Can you tell me if this vile idiot is one of your season ticket holders?

"And if he is, what are you going to do? My brother is actually in this photo, fighting for his life! Sadly, he didn’t survive! My brother is 1 of the 96!

"To use 96 innocent dead people to score points against other football fans is absolutely disgraceful! My brother & the other 95 victims did nothing to nobody!

"Hillsborough could have happened to any club that day and every football fan needs to remember this!"

Watford were among those who reported the post to police, and an investigation was soon launched.

Since then, Hertfordshire Constabulary says it has spoken to a person of interest, but they have since been eliminated from their enquiries.

PC Dani Howlett-Bolton, a hate crime officer for Watford, said: "By their very nature, these types of crimes are difficult to investigate and we have conducted extensive enquiries so far, as well as working in close partnership with Watford FC.

"We are now looking into exactly how the image was posted to that particular site using that particular profile.

"This has caused great distress and upset to the families of all 96 people who died as a result of the Hillsborough disaster.

"I am asking anyone who has information about who may be responsible for this incident to do the right thing and come forward to speak to me as a matter of urgency.

"We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has a copy of the original Facebook post, including the URL link which can be found in the internet browser's address bar."

You can report information online at www.herts.police.uk/report or call 101, quoting crime reference 41/19384/20.