Bungling football hooligans wielding baseball bats trashed a couple's wedding reception in France after mistaking the celebration for the leader of a rival gang.

Supporters of French side Saint Etienne destroyed the buffet and the wedding cake as they rampaged through Chateau de Talance in Denice in the east of the country.

They also smashed plates, broke glasses and ripped up tables while terrifying catering staff.

The Chateau de Talance in eastern France, where a wedding reception was smashed up by football hooligans in a case of mistaken identity

It came as the couple who were set to enjoy their reception at the venue were saying their vows at a nearby church in front of 300 guests.

However, it has since emerged that the thugs smashed up the wrong wedding after their intended target, a gang leader with Olympique Lyonnais Football Club - was getting married five miles away.

Catering staff who were forced to take refuge while the hooligans ran amok, later spoke of how they thought they were in the midst of a terror attack.

One caterer said: 'It was a real commando operation.

'Everything was going through our heads when it happened. We even thought it might be terrorists.

'They smashed everything. The staff were traumatised.

The Saint Etienne fans had targeted the wedding as they thought it was the venue of being used by a rival gang member, who supports Lyon

'A van that we did not recognise came to the chateau and around a dozen hooded individuals got out.

'When they reached the esplanade, where the reception was due to take place, they threw green smoke bombs and smashed up the buffet with bars and bats.'

Meanwhile five miles away, the wedding of the intended target went ahead without incident, although fellow Lyon supporters stood guard outside the venue.