Violence breaks out at genteel seaside resort

TMA in Brighton The peace and bonhomie of TMA2000 was shattered yesterday afternoon after one of the attendees was forcibly ejected from the telecoms conference and thrown out onto the street.

The incident happened at around 16:45 (BST) when a security man, slightly built and wearing a blazer and slacks, grabbed a middle-aged grey-haired chap by the scruff of the neck and threw him some 20 feet onto the pavement in front of the Brighton Centre.

The man landed on all fours, but picked himself up and went back for some more. A scuffle broke out, words were exchanged, before he lashed out at the glass-plated frontage of the conference centre.

One techy hack - whose actions can only be described as heroic - intervened to break-up the incident and cool the situation.

Amazed onlookers stood open-jawed at the eviction, before jostling for a better position to watch the scrap.

It's not clear exactly why the telecoms professional was booted from the show, but too much hospitality and a clear dislike for the wet weather were thought to be to blame. ®