Struggling Leicestershire have described the decision to deduct them 16 LV= County Championship points as "severe" and "bitterly disappointing".

The Foxes, bottom of Division Two, pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the England and Wales Cricket Board that there had been five or more separate occasions when cricketers registered with them committed fixed penalty offences.

A Cricket Disciplinary Commission disciplinary panel hearing at Lord's also fined the Foxes £5,000 - suspended for 12 months - and ordered them to pay £500 towards the costs of the hearing.

Leicestershire, who won their first home match since 2012 earlier this week, were 16 points behind second bottom Kent before the punishment was imposed - meaning they are now 32 points adrift at the bottom.

Leicestershire chief executive Wasim Khan issued a statement which read: "The chairman Paul Haywood, head coach Andrew McDonald and I were asked to attend an ECB disciplinary hearing at Lord's this morning.

"The hearing related to five incidents reported by umpires over the last 12 months that were deemed to show a level of dissent to the umpires or opposition players.

"It is with huge disappointment that the ECB Disciplinary Panel Committee has today decided to dock Leicestershire CCC 16 Championship points this season. We believe that the sanction imposed is severe.

"As you are aware, Andrew and I have worked hard, and continue to do so, to improve the expected standards and levels of discipline expected of Leicestershire cricketers.

"It is unfortunate that two of the highest level indiscretions happened last year that we had no control over and we believe that the latest low level incident reported was particularly harsh.

"Unfortunately there is no platform for us as a club to appeal any of the reported incidents. We have already put in place procedures relating to player education and will be talking to the Professional Cricketers Association as to what further programmes we can put into place.

"The players have a duty to behave on the field as well as off the field in a manner that the club expects and so this is simply not acceptable to us. Further discussions with regards to future behaviour and the repercussions will be outlined to players within the next 24 hours.

"The conclusion to today's hearing is bitterly disappointing to us considering the superb win earlier this week against Derbyshire and taking into account the significant strides we have made this season.

"Clearly more needs to be done, but we will brush ourselves off and remain determined to do everything possible to improve every aspect of the club."

The CRC statement read: "The points deduction is immediate but the fine will be suspended for a period of 12 months and will be imposed if Leicestershire players commit a further two fixed penalty breaches within that period. In addition Leicestershire were ordered to pay £500 towards the cost of the hearing.

"The Panel took into account the guilty plea and the changes that have taken place at the club within the past year as well as the club's stated intention to improve their disciplinary situation.

"However they noted the overall seriousness of the five offences and felt that more substantial action should have been taken to address these issues at an earlier stage."