An American tourist complained about his food - sparking angry scenes as the furious chef and waiters chased him down the street.

The holidaymaker had been eating at the Italian restaurant in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Monday (December 2) afternoon when he complained about the dish served to him.

He tried to leave on his motorcycle when a scuffled erupted outside the restaurant. The American was seen in a tangle of punches with the chef and a dozen waiters in black shirts.

Revenge was quickly served up when the entire workforce of the restaurant - including four waitresses - chased the middle-aged tourist in shorts and a vest down the street.

One furious local was seen on CCTV trying to hit the barefooted American with a red flag and another had a wooden plank swinging above his head.

Police arrived at the scene near the Capri Restaurant in the Karon district of the popular tourist island and arrested the American, who only gave his surname as 'Connelly'.

He paid a 'fine' of 500 baht (16.50USD) and was released. Police said Tuesday (December 4) they had only taken the tourist's surname before letting him go.

Colonel Prawit Sutthiruengarun said three employees from the restaurant were also fined. They were Thai national Theeraporn Thitiyakorn, 27, and two Burmese workers named Aowmin Wen, 20 and Nadee, 21.

The policeman said both sides of the dispute had admitted their role in the ''consensual'' fight so they were only fined and then released.

Colonel Prawit said: "Both parties were brought to the station and were fined for 500 baht (12.7 GBP) for being part of the the consensual fight.

''Nobody was injured and it was not a serious fight. All the people were all released as no one wished to charge further."