The digger driver who destroyed the entrance of a newly built Travelodge in an alleged dispute over pay might just have needed to check his bank balance, colleagues have said.

A crowdfunder was set up for the builder after video showed him smashing through the reception on Monday when it was claimed he was owed money for work.

At the time, a colleague said he hadn’t been paid for multiple days but it has now emerged that the driver had been paid – he just hadn’t checked his account before the rampage.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

In the video the builder is heard shouting: ‘I told you 600 f***ing quid’, as he ploughs through glass windows, wrecking the ceiling and front desk.




He is said to have caused extensive damage to the hotel in Liverpool Innovation Park which has not yet been opened to the public.

Second wave of panic buying begins as delivery slots fill up

It was later alleged in the comments section of the video that the digger driver had been owed money.

A crowdfunder set up for the driver smashed its £600 target, reaching more than £2,000.

But the man’s co-workers have now claimed the man’s money had been paid but a banking error meant their wages were paid on Monday instead of Friday.

It’s believed he had been working for MF Construction, based in Cheshire, and his co-workers said the delay sent him into a rage.

The digger crashed through the front of the building (Picture: PA)

A colleague who is not named told The Sun: ‘The money was supposed to go into his bank on Friday.

‘But there was some kind of glitch and it didn’t go in until Monday.

‘He didn’t check his bank account and didn’t realise he’d actually been paid. That’s why he went mental and wrecked the place.’

Merseyside Police say a man will be interviewed by detectives today.

Officers were called to the scene shortly after 3pm and said the driver left the vehicle and made off on foot in the direction of Edge Lane.

Luckily the hotel was not yet open to the public (Picture: PA)

The incident caused ‘extensive damage’ (Picture: PA)

A force spokesman said: ‘A man has since been located and will be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

‘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.’

Ceiling fixer Samuel White, 24, said workers were ‘gobsmacked’ as the digger repeatedly smashed into the hotel.

He said on Monday: ‘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.’

Triton Construction, who are the main contractors for the site, said the man was waiting for his boss to arrive when he decided to drive the digger into the finished hotel.

A spokesperson said there appeared to be ‘no structural damage’ so repairs should be made relatively quickly.

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.