HOTEL guests demanded refunds when a group of drift racers ran amok after a motor racing event.

Guests at the Premier Inn, Tees Barrage, Stockton, were quaking in their beds after a number of guests rampaged through the hotel.

A bedroom door was kicked in, a television smashed, fire extinguishers let off and door numbers ripped off by a handful of the drivers, who stayed at the hotel on Saturday night.

The 20-minute rampage only came to an end when the culprits were ordered to leave the inn by members of their group.

But hotel manager Stuart Swainson, who also manages the neighbouring Talpore pub, said the damage had been done by then, and the potential loss of custom to the inn had been great.

The drivers had been in the area for a drift racing event, called Fight Night, at Teesside Autodrome, on Saturday.

Drift racing takes place in rear-wheel-drive cars and competitors have to keep their vehicles sliding sideways as long as possible.

Mr Swainson said some of the drivers had arrived on Thursday for the event, but the problems only arose on Saturday, after about 30 more drivers checked in.

"A number of the drivers went out on Saturday night and came back at about 4am," said Mr Swainson.

"They made a bit of noise, so our night porters asked them to quieten down. Most of them did, but a few took it upon themselves to cause a lot of trouble.

"They took numbers off doors, broke into a couple's room, who were members of their group, and smashed a TV, knocked a door through and set off a couple of fire extinguishers.

"As a result, guests in three or four rooms asked for their money back. We were more than happy to give it to them."

Mr Swainson said drift racers had stayed at the hotel before, but had never caused any problems.

However, he said, they would not be welcomed back and said he would do everything possible to make sure they were never allowed to stay at a Premier Inn again.

"The main organiser - a man from Ireland - offered to pay for the damage and he gave us £150 before he left," said the manager.

"But he will be getting billed for the rest. The guests were not happy, which was the most important thing. The TV we can replace - we are more bothered about the potential loss of business."

A guest at the hotel on Saturday night, who did not wish to be named, said: "People were very unhappy about the noise and disruption.

"My son was in a room beneath them and he thought the noise was so bad, the bed was about to come through the ceiling. It was absolute mayhem.

"They thought it was all okay because they were going to pay for the damage - they thought they were rock stars. But it was disgusting. They were adults acting like 12-year-olds."

Police were called to the hotel later yesterday, but no arrests were made.