'Like caged animals': Astonishing moment Brit holidaymakers stampede to sunbeds at Tenerife hotel after staff locked them in

Kids and disabled man barged out of the way in mad rush for best spots by the pool.

Guests prepare to rush for the sunbeds before the doors are unlocked

BRIT holidaymakers stampede to bag a sunbed after hotel staff allegedly locked them inside "like caged animals". These astonishing images show the mad rush as more than 100 tourists wait by the chained doors to get to the pool in Tenerife.

The poolside loungers at the Best Hotel in Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife

When they were finally allowed through they began running at full pelt to claim the best spots. Holidaymakers reported being jostled and even threatened with physical violence.

A pregnant woman was allegedly hit in the stomach, kids were barged aside and a disabled man was almost knocked out of his wheelchair.  The Battle of the Sunbeds kicked off after staff at the four star Best Hotel in Playa De Las Americas reportedly decided to lock the doors to the pool area until after breakfast each morning.

The bizarre daily ritual led to a huge crowd gathering at the doors ready to jockey for the best pool-side position at 9am. ritish holidaymaker Julie Higson, 37, filmed the antics of the crowd on her mobile phone while on a seven-day break with her husband, James, 36, and their 11 year old son.

The teaching assistant, from Worthing, West Sussex, said: ''It's almost like the tourists were caged animals waiting to get out. ''It was quite horrifying to think you can get scenes like this over a sunbed.
"I know there is always a joke about German holidaymakers getting up in the middle of the night to lay down towels on sunbeds but this was ridiculous.

"Apparently the no access rule is hotel policy and staff enforced this by locking the doors to the outside area and blocking the fire escapes with bins and chairs. ritish holidaymaker Julie Higson, 37, filmed the antics of the crowd on her mobile phone while on a seven-day break with her husband, James, 36, and their 11 year old son.

The teaching assistant, from Worthing, West Sussex, said: ''It's almost like the tourists were caged animals waiting to get out. ''It was quite horrifying to think you can get scenes like this over a sunbed. "I know there is always a joke about German holidaymakers getting up in the middle of the night to lay down towels on sunbeds but this was ridiculous.

"Apparently the no access rule is hotel policy and staff enforced this by locking the doors to the outside area and blocking the fire escapes with bins and chairs.