This is the bizarre moment a digger driver smashes into a Travelodge in a furious rampage over an alleged £600 unpaid wage bill – on the same day builders had finished working on it.
Footage shows the orange digger ploughing into the hotel at Liverpool Innovation Park on Edge Lane shortly before 3pm today.
After getting up the steps leading to the entrance, the digger tears through the entrance and white parts of the doorway can be seen falling to the ground.
A few seconds later, the digger rolls back out of the entrance and down the steps but the determined operator heads back up and through the front door.
The digger smashes into the Travelodge hotel in Liverpool, breaking the front doors today
The determined driver rolls up the steps for a second time after smashing the glass doors
The arm of the digger is well inside the reception and the driver, thought to be called David, proceeds to crash into walls and the front desk.
A number of workers can be seen cheering on the driver while videoing the incident on their phones – with others appearing to try to stop him.
One person can be heard shouting on the footage, saying: ‘That’s what happens when people don’t pay your wages, mate.
‘You just don’t s**t on the job. He’s a sick man, mate. Right through the building.’
On the Travelodge website, the hotel is listed as ‘opening soon’, but the extensive damage could set back their plans.
The driver of the digger was angry over a pay dispute said to involve £600, according to claims made on social media.
Parts of the ceiling and the entire front door can be seen broken and laying on the floor
Travelodge’s website says the hotel is ‘opening soon’ but the damage could set back plans
Police were called to the scene but the digger driver had already left the vehicle and ran from the area, towards Edge Lane.
Pictures taken at the Travelodge show extensive damage caused to the building, including broken glass and fallen debris, with the digger still outside the hotel.
Workers had erected metal fencing at the scene, around the destroyed hotel front, while officers carried out enquiries at the hotel.
Thousands of people have now seen the footage on social media, with saying he was right to take drastic actions if he hasn’t been paid.
Some of the ceiling panels are ripped off during the incident, left and pictures of the damage, right, show the extent of the damage
One person wrote: ‘Don’t care how much it was he wasn’t having p*** took out of him and £600 is a lot of money.’
While another added: ‘Can’t not pay people happens to much in construction. The man probably had bills to pay children to support. If you do the work you should be paid on agreed day end of.’
In another video taken from inside the hotel building the scale of the damage caused by the digger can be clearly seen.
A man can be seen approaching the digger to try and stop the driver during the destruction
Parts of the ceilings are collapsed around the machinery, while walls and structural beams also appear to be affected by the vehicle.
A number of other workers in high-vis jackets can be seen inside the hotel watching the carnage.
One man even walks over to the digger and tries to reason with the driver.
He grabs onto the vehicle and another man, who has walked to a safe distance away from the reception, shouts: ‘You’re going to break your leg!’
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police also confirmed that one man was treated by paramedics at the hotel.
In a statement, the force said: ‘We are appealing for information after damage was caused to a hotel under construction in Liverpool today.
‘A report was received shortly before 3pm that the digger was being driven into the entrance of the Travelodge building in the Liverpool Innovation Park.
‘The driver then left the vehicle and made off on foot in the direction of Edge Lane.
‘One man experienced eye irritation due to exposure to diesel and was treated at the scene by North West Ambulance Service.
‘It is not believed anyone else was injured during the incident.
Metal fences can be seen around the steps leading to the reception as workers checked the site after the incident
‘Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services and contractors attended to ensure the site was safe.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.
You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 19100021276 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.
Travelodge declined to comment as the police investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for Triton Construction, the main constructor on site, said there understanding is that a labourer who works for another groundwork constructor couldn’t find his boss who was due to give him his wages.
They said: ‘At approximately 3.00pm the labourer took it upon himself to drive a small mini excavator through the entrance screen of the hotel and subsequently caused damage to finishes within the reception.
‘Fortunately there appear to be no structural damage so repairs can be undertaken relatively quickly.’