today

Rachael Bell, 17, is still too scared to face her family after advertising her house party online - only for 200 'guests' to wreck the £230,000 luxury home. "It was just an absolute nightmare. It was so surreal. You just can't imagine anything like it happening. 'We didn't recognise the people and didn't know what was going on so we bolted the door - but they just started climbing through the window".

Police were needed to disperse the crowds at the Easter Monday spree that forced Rachael to flee her home and go into hiding. Her parents Allan and Elaine Bell say they are now looking for temporary accommodation. When the party got totally out of control, some neighbours brandished golf clubs as they tried to chase the revellers away.

Last night the Durham Police denied they were at fault for the party getting out of control. A spokesman said: “This was a private house party. Forcibly breaking up the party was not a serious option." That excuse sounds like nonsense, in the circumstances, rather like a Private Eye skit..