NATO sailors brought chaos to a packed Spanish beach when they raced rigid inflatable boats in a designated swimming area.

The Belgian and Dutch sailors had been practising diving skills with the Royal Navy, before apparently disembarking from minesweeper ships and taking to Zodiac launches and a jet ski.

They sped around the bay off Samil beach, left, packed with up to 40,000 people, in the north-west city of Vigo for three hours on Wednesday.

The men and women sailors, who had been given leave to explore the city, ignored the pleas of police and were eventually stopped by a Civil Guard patrol boat.

They now face fines of up to £155,000 and a major dressing down by top brass.

Lieutenant Commander Brett Dawe, second in command of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Quorn, met Spanish authorities and confirmed yesterday that no British sailors misbehaved.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: "British sailors are ambassadors when abroad. They know not to behave like that."

Mayor Abel Caballero said: "The beach was full of people.

"The Zodiacs entered safety areas where there were swimmers and children, creating a dangerous situation."

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