A TRAWLERMAN who led emergency services on a dramatic seven-hour chase across the North Sea was in hiding last night.

Fishing boat skipper Peter Grylls caused pandemonium - and cost taxpayers £50,000 - when he comandeered a trawler and crashed into four other vessels as he weaved out of harbour.

Witnesses called the coastguard after seeing the boat, Amanda, lurching from side to side as it left Kafiga Landings, at Hartlepool Marina, and headed out to sea.

Fearing a disaster, either on the Amanda or another vessel unfortunate enough to encounter it, Humberside Coastguard scrambled four lifeboats and two RAF rescue helicopters.

But as lifeboats drew alongside the 30ft craft, crew members were prevented from boarding.

The chase continued three miles off the coast, with a police launch and a spotter plane joining the pursuit.

After numerous appeals for him to stop, the Northumbria Police Marine launch, which had been called in to assist, drew alongside, and officers leapt aboard and managed to and arrest Mr Grylls at 4am yesterday.

Last night, it emerged Mr Grylls hit the headlines in 1980 when he went missing shortly before his 18th birthday - and was found drifting in a life raft miles out at sea.

His father, Stan, said: "We were going through hell then, and we just can't believe he has been involved in something like this."

The Northern Echo tracked down the former oil rig worker to his home in Hartlepool, but he was refusing to speak about his adventure last night.

His partner, Tracey, said: "He's in bed and he's not coming down. He's in a bit of a temper with himself."

Mr Grylls's trail of destruction was estimated at £500,000 by one of the furious skippers whose boats was damaged.

The fisherman, who declined to give his name, said: "Boat repairs cost a fortune that none of us can afford.

"When you add to that the cost of the helicopters, police lifeboats and coastguard it's one hell of a night's work.

"He has caused chaos and destruction, and he's not a popular man down here at the moment."

Mr Grylls volunteered to be breathalised seven hours after the drama started, and police said that, although witnesses described him as appearing drunk when he took out the boat, he passed the breath test.

He was released on police bail until next month while further inquiries are carried out