The Rangers team bus has been vandalised outside a hotel in Aberdeenshire, prompting a police investigation.

Graffiti referring to the 1971 Ibrox disaster was scratched into the bus outside the Ardoe Hotel ahead of a league match against Aberdeen on Sunday.

Other graffiti on the bus refers to former Rangers player Ian Durrant.

The vandalism was covered up before the bus arrived at Pittodrie for the match on Sunday afternoon.

A spokesman for Rangers said: "The club is disgusted and disappointed by this act of vandalism.

"In particular, the reference to the Ibrox disaster in which 66 people lost their lives is especially vile.

"This sort of behaviour has no place in civilised society. The incident was immediately reported to Police Scotland and we will assist them with their inquiries."

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "Police Scotland were made aware of vandalism in the Deeside area in the early hours of the morning.

"Inquiries are ongoing."