MP Keith Vaz hailed as "excellent news" the decision to drop charges against Leicester City footballers accused of attacking three women in Spain.

Paul Dickov, 31, Frank Sinclair, 32, and Keith Gillespie, 29, were locked in a Spanish jail after allegations of sexual assault were made against them in March.

They repeatedly pleaded their innocence and were finally cleared at a court hearing in Cartagena after forensic tests found no link between the players and their accusers.

Leicester MP Mr Vaz said: "This is excellent news and a complete vindication of the position taken by the club and the players.

"They have been through a great deal over the last few months.

"Our faith in the Spanish legal system has been fully rewarded and the club and the players can now move on."

Mr Vaz had agreed to stand as a guarantor for the players to get bail when they were initially arrested.

He also arranged a meeting with Jack Straw just after they were arrested to see what the British Government could do.

Leicester City officials said they were pleased that justice had been done as the players expressed their delight at the news that the case had been brought to an end.

Judge Jacinto Areste granted the application to drop the charges and it is believed there is now a period of around two or three days in which an appeal could be made.

Leicester chief executive Tim Davies said that five other players who were provisionally released following the incident were also cleared and none of the players would have to return to Spain to be formally vindicated.