It caused almost £10,000 of damage, involved mass underage drinking and required 30 police officers, a police helicopter and the police dog squad to break up. But it was still "the best party ever", according to the Australian teenager currently under investigation for throwing a raucous bash when his parents went away on holiday.

Corey Delaney, 16, of Melbourne, could face a bill to pay for the havoc caused by the 500 marauding teenagers who attended the party at his home on Saturday.

He will have to face his parents too: he was hoping the mess could be cleared up by the time they returned home from their break in Queensland, in northern Australia, but huge media coverage has ruled out that idea.

On her way home last night after cutting her holiday short, his mother, Jo, told the Seven Network: "We're a good family. I'm just devastated and horrified that this has actually occurred.

"Obviously he's very scared of the consequences that we're going to bring upon him."

Fear, however, was not the emotion most obvious yesterday when her son - sporting bleached blond hair, yellow outsized sunglasses and a bare chest - was interviewed by Nine Network television news. Asked what advice he had for other teenagers planning a home alone party, he said: "Get me to do it for you.

"Best party ever, that's what everyone's saying."

He claimed to have ignored his parents' phone calls since the news broke and said he would not be at home when they returned.

His father Steve proclaimed himself horrified. He said his son pulled out of the family trip at the last minute, saying he had to work.

Jo Delaney added: "I can't believe that Corey would do this to us to start with. Honestly, he must have planned the party."

The teenager is reported to have advertised his party on the internet and by text messages and it attracted a number of strangers.

He told local media his invited guests had no part in the melee, and that it was the gatecrashers who had caused all the trouble.

Police were called by neighbours worried about the noise level. When officers arrived they were greeted with a barrage of bottles and rocks, damaging police cars. The guests were eventually dispersed with the help of a police helicopter.

An estimated A$20,000 (about £9,200) worth of damage was done but no arrests were made. Nearby houses and gardens were damaged.

Victoria state's police commissioner, Christine Nixon, said the police were considering billing him up to $20,000 for the intervention.

"He needs to learn a lesson, and one way or another we will be making sure that happens," she told a news conference.

Nixon said that if Corey did not pay, the community in effect would pay for his irresponsibility.