Police hunt man who smashed up Travelodge with digger 'because he was not paid for work'

Police are seeking a man who was filmed smashing into the reception of a Travelodge hotel with a digger, amid speculation he did so because he was a disgruntled contractor.

Videos posted on social media showed the machine destroying the front of the Liverpool hotel at 3pm on Monday, the day it was supposed to be finished.

A man can be heard saying on the video: "That's what happens when people don't pay their wages."

Repeated claims made on various platforms from contractors in the area suggest that there was a dispute over £600 in pay allegedly owed to the driver. However, these claims are not verified and Travelodge declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, adding that the property is not under their control as of yet and is still the responsibility of the developer.

The current owner of the site, Valedown Ltd, which is developing the building for use as a Travelodge property, also declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.

Ceiling fixer Samuel White, 24, said: "The handover was today, everything completed, we'd put the last tile in, cleaned up and made sure everything was perfect.

"Then some idiot in a mini digger decided to drive through the middle of the building.

"There were loads of workers outside all gobsmacked, jaws to the floor wondering what's going on.

"The site manager was running around like a headless chicken, he wasn't happy at all."

A statement released by Merseyside police on Monday evening read: “We are appealing for information after damage was caused to a hotel under construction in Liverpool.

“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.

"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. Merseyside fire and rescue services and contractors attended to ensure the site was safe."