Police called to Palace party

Police had to be called to the Crystal Palace footballers' Christmas drinks party.

Players from the First Division club alarmed staff with their behaviour at the Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle, where the squad had gone for a team-building exercise.

It is understood the players, celebrating Saturday's home win over Nottingham Forest, began throwing tomato soup in the bar at about 2am. Staff had their uniforms splattered and called 999 when their pleas to stop were ignored.

Several police cars went to the hotel in the city's Quayside area. The squad, not all of whom were at the party, returned to London later yesterday morning. Eyewitnesses said one player went to bed as soon as the food-throwing started.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said today: "We spoke to the guests involved and no further police action was taken." Crystal Palace FC declined to comment.