A nightclub owner apologised last night for a promotion campaign which offered prizes to revellers who guessed the names of footballers allegedly involved in the rape of a 17-year-old girl.

Clubbers were contacted by text message and offered free tickets and drinks at Tyneside's Tuxedo Princess floating nightclub if they e-mailed the names of Premiership players who were at the centre of the allegations.

The text message also named one football club which was believed to be caught up in the accusations.

The message read: "Can u guess which (the football club's name appears here) players were ALLEGEDLY involved in the recent newspaper scandal?"

Revellers were invited to send their answers to the club's e-mail address.

The nightclub, moored by the Tyne Bridge in Gateshead, apologised for the competition.

Tony Know, managing director of owner Absolute Leisure, said: "I would like to apologise to our customers.

"I didn't know this competition question had been run. It's in completely bad taste. I am disgusted.

"Fortunately, I understand the competition only went out in the form of a text message to the Tuxedo's customers, but if it hasn't already been stopped, it has been now."

Four men, two of them footballers, have been arrested and questioned by detectives then bailed in connection with the alleged rape at a London hotel.