TWO drunken sisters behaved like "hysterical apes at feeding time" when they racially insulted staff at a takeaway restaurant.

Rachael and Nicola Anderson climbed on the counter, shouted racist abuse and hurled a hand-bag at staff in a row over an order of pizza and chips.

Durham Crown Court heard that when they were finally ushered from the premises with the help of other customers, Rachael Anderson turned and kicked the door, shattering the glass.

Andrew Holmes, prosecuting, said the pair, who were laughing and screaming, and unsteady on their feet, entered Bridge End Pizza, in Chester-le-Street, with two other women, late on January 26.

The dispute arose after they were told the shop did not serve chips. They later demanded food, despite not having paid.

Following their arrest, neither could recall events, but made admissions after they were shown shop CCTV footage of the incident.

Both women admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

Nick Peacock, for 20-year-old Rachael Anderson, who also admitted causing criminal damage, said the former soldier was embarrassed and utterly shamed at her actions.

But he said she has no "overt racist tendencies", and that her comments were made in drink.

He said: "She puts it down to drink. They had all drunk too much, certainly much more than she is normally used to."

Stephen Ainsley, for 24-year-old Nicola Anderson, said the single mother of a six-year-old daughter "expresses profound disgust and shame".

Rachael Anderson, of York Road, and Nicola Anderson, of King Street, both Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, were each given six-month prison sentences, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months of probation supervision.

Judge Richard Lowden told them: "This behaviour was barely human. It reminded me more of hysterical apes at feeding time at the zoo than responsible human beings."

He told Nicola Anderson: "What would it be like to sit down with your child and watch that video and say that was mammy?"

Judge Lowden also ordered Nicola Anderson to perform 150 hours of unpaid work, and Rachael Anderson was given a £40 compensation order for the damaged door, with £100 costs