TWENTY four people were released by police last night after an incident in which a coach was allegedly smashed up after breaking down.

They were arrested after trouble broke out on the coach as it headed back to Sunderland from Liverpool on Saturday night.

Police said they had stopped in Wetherby to buy drink and became aggressive when the coach broke down on the A19 northbound carriageway, near Thirsk, at about 10pm.

The driver called for police help and officers arriving at the scene found several men smashing up the interior.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said that Northallerton CID officers were carrying out investigations.

All 24 people were released last night and bailed until the end of October for further inquiries to be made.

The spokesman said that earlier reports suggesting that the coach was carrying football supporters on the way back from Sunderland's Premiership game against Liverpool were wrong. The group were on their way back from a private party.

No one was injured in the incident.