Staff fled the Leeds Arms as a gang of 30 smashed up the Benidorm bar as they chanted songs insulting the memory of two Leeds supporters stabbed to death in Turkey in 2000.

Windows were smashed and pictures and Leeds United memorabilia, including a statue of Billy Bremner, were ripped from the walls and destroyed in the rampage.

The gang carried out the attack earlier this week en route to watch Manchester United in their Champions League match against Villarreal.
Landlord Lee Bland, originally from Belle Isle, Leeds, said he faced a huge bill for the damage and loss of takings as he had to close the pub for three days to prevent a repeat attack.

He told the YEP: "The people who have done this are an absolute disgrace. They left the two people working behind the bar absolutely petrified. Luckily they weren't hurt but they were left really shocked.

"I have insurance to cover the damage but a lot of the stuff that has been damaged was memorabilia given to us by Leeds fans all over the world and is of sentimental value to supporters."

Mr Bland's daughter Carly, 23, and barman Gary Hart, 39, were working when the 30 Manchester supporters came in and ordered drinks before carrying out the attack.

The former cabbie said they chanted "We All Hate Leeds!" and made taunts about Galatasaray and the incident in which Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were killed in Istanbul in April, 2000.

Police were called but the group only left after the landlord of a nearby Manchester United-aligned bar, The Stretford End, pleaded with them to stop.

Mr Bland said: "He went in and told them that they were a disgrace to the club they were supposed to be supporting.

"By the time I got there most of them had gone but as we were pulling the shutters down to close up some of them came back to film and take pictures of what they had done. I can't believe anyone could be proud of causing such damage."

Lee and wife Bev opened up the bar just before Christmas 2003 after going into the £35,000 venture with dad Howard and mum Coleen.

The couple quit their jobs and sold their house in Belle Isle to start their new life on the Costa Blanca.

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