EIGHT St Helens pals had more than £2,000 worth of possessions pinched from their hotel apartments within hours of arriving in Tenerife for a week-long holiday.

The group of chums, six of who play for amateur rugby league side Pilkington Recs, had been at the popular Playa de Las Americas resort of Tenerife for only ten hours when thieves struck.

About £1,000 cash was taken, along with mobile phones, bank cards, a CD player, dozens of CDs and other belongings. One of the group had about £500 snatched.

Speaking back at home this week, the lads - all aged in their 20s - said the theft did not ruin their hols but fired out a warning to holidaymakers,

particularly gangs of mates, to be on their guard when abroad.

Paul Cresswell, 26, a tax advisor from Clock Face, said: "We arrived in Tenerife at about 2am on the Saturday morning and went straight out. We came back in the morning and everything was still there and then went out for some breakfast.

"An hour later we returned and we had been robbed - it proved to be the most expensive breakfast ever!

"But though we can have a laugh about it now, and we still went on to have a good holiday, it was a nightmare start and we were gutted."

The lads had been in two apartments and had not used safety deposit boxes, one of which was broken. After reporting the theft to Spanish police, they quickly cancelled bank cards, and had to get money transferred from home.

Paul, known to pals as Cressy, added: "The police say it's happening often. When you arrive in the resort there are people coming up to you saying 'where are you from, where are you staying where are you going tonight.'

"By telling them you're giving them information and could make yourself a target. We'd just advise anyone going on holiday to be cautious."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said they have nothing to indicate that holidaymakers are being targeted by thieves at resorts favoured by groups of young men and women.