UPDATE: A rowdy Brighton and Hove Albion internet forum which closed temporarily after being warned by the police has now reopened.

Darren, aka Bozza, who runs the North Stand Chat site, closed its messageboards today and posted a statement in their place explaining what had happened.

He said officers had warned him he could be charged for several offences, including public disorder, and stirring up racial hatred, and that sentences can be increased for offences aggravated by sexual orientation.

At about 8pm, the boards came back - but with a stiff warning that abusive posts will not be tolerated.

In the original post, Darren told members: “I run NSC for fun. It takes up a fair bit of time occasionally, and also causes grief. But this is a level of grief too far.

“So this is a first and last warning to everyone: “Do not use NSC as a sounding board for any views you may hold on race matters. They do not belong here.

“Be in no doubt that if there is any more, NSC will be closed down for good without notice. That would be very sad, but I do not want to carry the risk of what some idiots think is acceptable “NSC will stay closed for a little while in order that people get to read and digest this. Many apologies to the significant majority who use NSC in the way it is intended.”

When the boards came back up, he posted another message, warning members they needed to watch what they said.

He said:"The offending posts have been removed from view and I hope the holding message that has been greeting visitors to NSC today has left all in no doubt: NSC is going to be different from today.

"The moderating team have always allowed significantly more latitude than is displayed on most comparable forums. There is very little that is moderated or removed from view."

He added: "It's become evident to me, as I'm sure it has to many others, that there has been a steady increase in postings of a more extreme political nature, often unpleasant in their tone. These will no longer be tolerated on NSC. If you feel a burning desire to express such beliefs then please take them elsewhere."