Footage apparently showing a woman grabbing a Preston North End football shirt out of the hands of a young boy at Wembley has outraged fans and players.

Hat-trick hero Jermaine Beckford took off his shirt when he was subbed in Sunday's League One play-off final between Preston and Swindon — which PNE won 4-0 — and threw it towards the crowd.

A youngster, named online as eight-year-old Ted Dockray, appeared delighted when he caught the shirt until a woman with a pink top was caught on camera snatching it from his grasp.

Shortly after the match finished the shirt was reported to have appeared on Gumtree where it was being sold for £1,500. The post has since been taken down.

The incident caused an outcry on social media, with the hashtag #Justice4BeckfordShirtKid trending on Twitter.

The wife of veteran Preston striker Kevin Davies expressed her horror at the photos.

Emma Davies, who was at the game, said: "I have lost all belief in humanity after seeing that footage. That poor little boy's face when she takes it from him. I find it horrifying to watch."

Quoted on The Bolton News, Mrs Davies added: "The club have been really supportive and said they'll get the boy another shirt, but as Kevin says, it's not the same is it?"

In a new update, the Manchester Evening News has reported the vilified woman claims the incident was just a misunderstanding and she knows the child.