A STAG party from Bolton had a nightmare flight home when a group of youths started to cause trouble and refused to turn off a mobile phone.

Jim McKay, Deane Conservative Club steward, had organised a four-day stag party in swinging Amsterdam for a party of 10 men.

But their flight home to Liverpool with easyjet was ruined when a party of youths refused to turn off a mobile phone.

Mr McKay said: "The stewardess asked them to turn off the mobile, and then the captain issued a warning over the intercom. But still they refused to turn it off.

"They were putting our lives and their own in danger. It was madness."

He said the youths also verbally abused aircraft staff.

A spokesman for easyjet confirmed that as the plane began its descent to Speke Airport a group of three youths were asked to stop using a mobile phone because it was interfering with the plane's navigation system.

"The crew asked the police to escort the passengers off the plane because they refused to turn off a mobile phone and verbally abused the cabin staff. "

A spokesman for Liverpool police confirmed that a 16-year-old youth was arrested and charged with a reckless act likely to endanger the aircraft or persons therein.

He has been released on bail and will appear before the youth court in Liverpool on July 26.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.