A man is to be interviewed by detectives investigating after the front of a hotel was destroyed by a digger, police have said.

Footage which went viral online showed the vehicle repeatedly smashing into the reception of the Travelodge in Liverpool Innovation Park on Monday, the day it was due to be completed.

Merseyside Police were called to the scene shortly after 3pm and said the driver left the vehicle and made off on foot in the direction of Edge Lane.

A force spokesman said: “A man has since been located and will be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

“One man experienced eye irritation due to exposure to diesel and was treated at the scene by North West Ambulance Service. It is not believed anyone else was injured during the incident.”

Ceiling fixer Samuel White, 24, told the Press Association on Monday: “The handover was today, everything completed, we’d put the last tile in, cleaned up and made sure everything was perfect.

“Then some idiot in a mini digger decided to drive through the middle of the building.”

Digger driven into Travelodge
Damage caused to the Travelodge in Edge Lane, Liverpool (Samuel White/PA)

Mr White repeated claims made by many on social media that the driver of the digger was angry over a pay dispute said to involve £600.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.

They can also call 101 quoting incident reference 19100021276 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.