MORE than 100 Newcastle United fans, who were held under armed guard in a Belgrade hotel, returned home last night and launched an attack on Serbian officials.

Supporter and tour operator Keith Barrett described the situation as a farce and a total over-reaction, after they were stopped from leaving their hotel for four hours.

The drama started when the 108 fans arrived at the hotel ahead of their team's Champions League qualifier against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday night.

They were greeted by armed guards, who told them to stay inside for their own protection, but Mr Barratt said this was "nonsense".

The frustrated fans were ''rescued'' by a Foreign Office team and ended up sipping drinks at the British Embassy before heading off to watch the clash, which Newcastle won 1-0.

Mr Barratt said up to 60 police, equipped with batons and guns, refused to let any fans go out on to the Belgrade streets for four hours, before British Embassy officials managed to negotiate a compromise with the officers.

He said: ''It was outrageous. There was no way it was for our safety. There were other Newcastle fans out there with no bother.

"I just don't know why they did it.''

Mr Barratt, who runs Toon Travel and organised the £355 trip for many of the fans involved, said: ''The ambassador sorted everything out. We ended up in the bar at the embassy - about 100 of us. That was much more pleasant.''

Fellow traveller Vince Edes said: "I don't think it was because they thought we were going to start trouble, but there has been trouble caused by Partizan fans with other teams.

"I think they wanted to keep us in to protect us. Their fans are very passionate but at no time did we feel threatened."

Mr Barratt, from Seghill, in Northumberland, said: "It was an utter farce because 100 yards away in a square outside the hotel we could see other Newcastle fans happily drinking with the Belgrade supporters.

"It should not have happened. We should not have been kept in."