NORTH-EAST cricketer Liam Plunkett is one of four England players believed to have been disciplined for taking part in a late night drinking session.

The players - thought to be Plunkett, James Anderson, Ian Bell and Jon Lewis - were fined for hitting a nightclub just hours after losing their opening match of the World Cup against New Zealand in St Lucia on Friday.

Several players were given the fines after admitting a breach of team discipline at a lunchtime meeting of all the squad and management.

News of the these activities came to light when several British newspapers were emailed by fans reporting that a handful of players were out drinking into the early hours of the morning at Rumours Nightclub close to the team hotel.

There is no suggestion of improper behaviour by the players but England have clamped down on them for breaching team rules.

Other players were also thought to have been out but escaped disciplinary action because they returned home to their hotel at a reasonable hour.

Plunkett, 21, was banned from driving for 20 months after being arrested for drink-driving last October.

He had been drinking at Tall Trees nightclub, at Yarm, near Stockton, on October 19, where he was modelling suits.

Meanwhile, the England team management have declined to comment on a newspaper story that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was involved in an incident in which he capsized at sea.