The trial of two men accused of beating up their friend after a joyride through a Hemsby holiday park has collapsed.

A jury at Norwich Crown Court this morning heard evidence from detective sergeant Pete Wilson, of Great Yarmouth CID, on the second day of the trial.

Prosecutor Chris Youell had just taken DS Wilson through a transcript of an interview with defendant Bobby Kirton, which was conducted the day after the alleged incident, when Judge Maureen Bacon sent the jury out.

After legal discussions, the jury was brought back in and Judge Bacon told them: 'This is a case where I'm going to discharge you from reaching any verdicts.

'I don't propose to say any more than that, but there is good reason.

'I will see whether there will be a trial at a later stage.

'The prosecution will make that decision.'

The two defendants could face prosecution before a fresh jury, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) due to state its position at a hearing this Friday.

The case had opened yesterday, with Mr Youell outlining the prosecution case.

William Burrell, 32, is accused of tearing through Sea Breeze caravan park in Hemsby in a white Volkswagen Golf belonging to co-defendant Bobby Kirton, 31.

The pair, both from Gorleston, are then accused of violently assaulting their passenger John Cooper, 24, with doctors initially fearing he had a fractured eye socket.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said that events unfolded on April 25 last year after the three men, who were friends, were drinking at the Grange Hotel in Ormesby.

All three got in Kirton's car in the early afternoon before swapping drivers in a lay-by, with Burrell taking the wheel, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

'He [Burrell] decided to have some fun in it and drive around in a dangerous manner,' said Mr Youell. 'The crown say he started driving like a maniac round the Sea Breeze caravan park.'

Witness statements described the car smashing through a rose arch on the pedestrian entrance to the park, in Newport Road.

The windscreen of the car was smashed, the wing mirrors came off, its tyres popped and the car was running on its rims with the bumper hanging off, the court heard.

Paula Bammant, owner of Sea Breeze, said in a written statement that more than £1,000 of damage was caused, with concrete posts ripped out and fire extinguishers damaged.

One caravan owner, Diana Catty, described a car tooting its horn and almost knocking down two elderly women.

She said that it was daylight when it happened, and added that she 'could not believe what state' the car was in.

Mr Youell said that the car was then driven to the Drewery caravan park at Scratby, where it was burnt out.

Beverley Winner, who owns a caravan at the park, said in a written statement that she saw the car speed past and spin round in a camping field, before men who 'looked drunk' got out and started throwing stones and kicking the car.

She said they then set it on fire.

'I was sober during this incident and wearing my glasses throughout,' Ms Winner added.

Mr Youell said the men headed to the Centurion pub in Caister, were asked to leave and then Burrell, of Hawthorne Road, and Kirton, of Trafalgar Road East, turned on Mr Cooper - punching him to the floor.

Mr Cooper initially co-operated with police, giving a six-page 'detailed' witness statement to officers while at the James Paget University Hospital (JPH) in Gorleston.

In a second written statement he said that he avoided Gorleston since the incident, as Burrell and Kirton had a lot of friends there and these friends kept asking him what happened that night.

But in court yesterday, Mr Cooper insisted that the two defendants were still his friends, said he did not know how he sustained his injuries and could not remember making the police statement.

He added: 'I want the case chucked out.'

Mr Youell alleged that Mr Cooper was 'trying to cover up for them', and referred to his earlier witness statement.

In his initial statement, Mr Cooper said Burrell and Kirton 'rain[ed] blow after blow' on him, he was knocked to the ground and they continued with kicks.

Both men deny assault by actual bodily harm (ABH), and Burrell denies dangerous driving.

An update on whether the CPS will continue with proceedings, with a trial before a fresh jury, is set to be provided on Friday.