A group of rowdy British tourists travelling from London to the US were hauled off a plane by police after becoming drunk and "unruly" during the nine-hour flight.

Flight attendants were forced to alert the authorities after the four holiday-makers started disrupting the flight to Houston, Texas, according to local news channel ABC 13.

Police boarded the plane and dragged the Brits away when it landed at George Bush Airport yesterday.

The group had "started drinking and they did not stop", according to witnesses.

They were taken for questioning before eventually being allowed to leave without further action after sobering up, ABC 13 reported.

Meanwhile, another disruptive passenger forced an easyJet flight from Liverpool to Naples, in Italy, into an early landing yesterday.

The Liverpool Echo reported that plane was diverted to Lyon, France, where police were waiting to speak to the passenger.