A DIGGER driver who destroyed a brand new Travelodge over £600 in 'missing wages' HAD been paid but failed to check his bank account, co-workers claim.

Police are set to quiz the digger driver - named as 'John' by colleagues - after he was tracked down in the Merseyside area.

10 The driver smashed through the front doors of the Travelodge in Liverpool

10 Shocking photos from inside the hotel show the path of destruction

The workman was filmed trashing the Edge Lane hotel in Liverpool Innovation Park at around 3pm yesterday while screaming "if you'd just paid me my f***ing £600".

Co-workers at the site today claimed a banking glitch meant their Friday wages were paid on Monday - but the rampaging tradesman hadn't realised.

The labourer ran from the scene seconds before police arrived at the site and another worker was treated for minor injuries.

It is understood the suspect had been working for Cheshire-based MF Construction - who were the groundworks contractor for the project - at the time of the incident.

It is understood the damage, re-building work and the delayed opening of the hotel could cost up to £500,000.

'THE LAD HAD BEEN PAID - HE JUST DIDN'T REALISE'

Workers told The Sun Online a delay in wages over the weekend sparked the mayhem after the suspect had waited for bosses to arrive at the site.

One said: “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.”

Another added: “I’ve been told the lad thought he’d not got his money.

“But it just went into his bank account late and he didn’t check his account on the Monday.”

Ceiling fixer Samuel White, 24, said yesterday: "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."

'HE WAS WAITING THERE FOR HIS WAGES'

West-Yorkshire based Triton Construction, who are the main contractors for the site said the labourer had been waiting for his boss to arrive at around 3pm when the carnage unfolded.

A spokesperson for Triton Construction said: “It is our understanding that one of the labourers working for MF Construction had been waiting for his boss to arrive with his wages which he told other workers on site were overdue.

"It is alleged that the labourer couldn’t track down the owner of MF Construction and he became increasingly frustrated. 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.

He became frustrated... he took it upon himself to drive a small mini excavator through the entrance screen of the hotel Spokesman for Triton Construction

"The labourer then ran from the scene and to our knowledge is being pursued by the police. Fortunately there appear to be no structural damage so repairs can be undertaken relatively quickly."

A Merseyside Police 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."

The extensive damage caused to the building, including broken glass and fallen debris, can still be seen at the entrance.

Metal fencing has been erected around the hotel front as workers today took deliveries of replacement materials.



FUNDRAISING PAGE FOR 'HERO' WORKER

The labourer was filmed screaming "600 f***ing quid, all you had to do was pay me my 600 f***ing quid" as he demolished the lobby of the newly-built hotel.

Desperate co-workers could be heard shouting "John... John that's enough" as the digger tore through the entrance of the building.

But the footage has pulled on the nation’s heartstrings and a GoFundMe page was set up yesterday.

Former builder Jack Wellon, from Staunton, near Gloucester, said many people who work in trade encounter “similar situations week in, week out” regarding unpaid wages.

He wrote: “I used to work in the building trade here in The Cotswolds and know how the industry can work.

“It’s amazing to see all the workmen, families and everyone helping chip together to support this guy after he really stood up for himself and his wages.”

One man replied: “The man’s a legend! Standing up for the hard-working man, Too many companies not paying their workers what is owed!"

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Another added: “We have all been this guy at one point in our working lives.”

The page initially set a target of £600 but raised more than £3,000 in just 24 hours.

MF Construction could not be reached for comment.

10 The builder quickly smashed his way through the doors

10 The man drove the digger through the front door during the 30-minute rampage

10 The builder is said to have caused thousands of pounds in damage

10 Video footage filmed inside the hotel showed the extent of the damage

10 There was significant damage to the new Travelodge

10 The builder left the reception area in ruins and is being hunted by police

10 It's claimed the builder took action in a dispute over wages

10 Other builders could only stand around and watch as the rogue worker went on the destructive spree