A total of 39 people have been charged in connection with racist chanting and violent disorder following the FA Cup clash between Stoke City and Birmingham City last month.

The first suspects were detained on Thursday as part of a planned operation by Staffordshire Police.

They were all given police bail and ordered to appear before magistrates in Stoke-on-Trent in April and May.

Thirty-eight men and one woman were arrested after the force published photo-graphs of people it wanted to speak to in connection with events inside and outside Stoke's Britannia Stadium on February 19.

Images were captured during and after the fifth round match and analysed by the Football Intelligence Unit.

The suspects range in age from 14 to 56 and are charged with various crimes including affray, violent disorder, racist chanting, assault and offences under public order legislation.

More than 20 officers were involved in the arrest and questioning of the suspects, who were detained in

Birmingham and North Staffordshire between Thursday and yesterday. Seven of the suspects are aged under 18.

Det Sgt Steve Parker said: "This has been the largest football disorder inquiry in Staffordshire for many years.

"The disorder in February was a set back to the fantastic work achieved by working closely with fans and the football clubs in not only reducing the incidents of dis-order connected with football but in significantly reducing the number of matches requiring police attendance.

"Disorder like that witnessed in and around the stadium a month ago has no place in our community or our football stadiums."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced on Friday that it would be investigating the way Staffordshire Police had handled the disorder after it received 11 formal complaints from members of the public.

The "managed investigation" would investigate the conduct of officers and the tactics used to quell the disorder.