DINERS were thrown out of a pub by police at the weekend - after complaining their food had been served too quickly.

The unusual incident happened at the Quays, Basildon, where regular customer Graham Calkin and wife, Vivien, witnessed the row.

He said: "We were eating there about 7pm on Saturday, when we were very surprised to see four police officers turn up.

"They were called to a party of about eight people who were refusing to pay their bill.

"They hadn't actually finished their meal, because the service was too fast."

He added: "We'd never heard of anyone complaining a restaurant was too efficient and getting the police involved."

The Quays, in Pipps Hill Road, South, behind the Festival Leisure Park, is owned by the Spirit Group.

A company spokesman said: "A party complained its main courses arrived too quickly.

"There was nothing wrong with the food, which they ate. It was only when they refused to pay and became unreasonable we felt we had no choice but to call the police."