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Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised after suggesting that hooliganism played a part in the Hillsborough disaster.

He was praising England fans at the 2010 World Cup, saying the "terrible problems" of "Heysel and Hillsborough in the 1980s seem now to be behind us".

Ninety-six Liverpool fans were crushed to death on April 15, 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium but investigations have found that violence played no part in the tragedy.

Hunt was giving an interview following England's exit from the World Cup, in which he applauded the behaviour of fans.

Apologising afterwards, he said: "I know that fan unrest played no part in the terrible events of April 1989 and I apologise to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured in the Hillsborough disaster if my comments caused any offence."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted that David Cameron has full confidence in Hunt.

But Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "After all these years of fighting for justice, I am very angry that he has shown such ignorance of the facts. He is an absolute disgrace."

Mrs Aspinall, who lost her 18-year-old son James in the disaster, said she would not accept Hunt's apology unless she was allowed to meet him and "explain the facts".

She added: "I want him to understand that he has reopened old wounds which should have healed many years ago.

"The problem we have is that Hunt has influence and people listen to him.

"We have fought to move forward but now – thanks to him – it feels like we have taken a step backwards."

Speaking in the House of Commons, Derek Twigg – MP for Halton in Cheshire – branded Hunt's remarks "a disgrace".

Twigg added that he had spoken to relatives of those who had died and they were "deeply distressed".

He continued: "How can they have trust in the Government that they will see through the proper release of the Hillsborough files given that that's the view held in high parts of the Government?"