The on-air sex noises disrupted the BBC's pre-match coverage ahead of an FA Cup replay between Liverpool and Wolves, with a prankster claiming credit for the incident.

The BBC's press office has issued a statement after sex noises were heard on air during a live broadcast.

The noises were heard during the pre-match build up ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup third-round replay victory over Wolves at Molineux. Presenter Gary Lineker was left red-faced by the incident, which appeared to be the result of a phone taped to the back of the studio set.

Lineker himself described it as a "quite amusing" sabotage, while a prankster has claimed credit for the act. There was also a quick response from the BBC, too, with a statement put out during the half-time break.

"We apologise to any viewers offended during the live coverage of the football this evening," a statement from a spokesperson read. "We are investigating how this happened."

Co-commentator Alan Shearer had joked that the phone belonged to studio pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy. "The floodlights going off, Danny Murphy's phone going off in the studio; what else can happen?" he quipped.