TWO referees were chased off a basketball court by fans after passions boiled over at a game.

The officials were locked in dressing rooms for their safety, then smuggled out of a back door to waiting cars after a Worcester Wolves clash against Worthing Thunder.

TWO referees were chased off court after a vital basketball match boiled over.

An investigation has been launched following the incident at Worcester Wolves' English Basketball League Division One play-off quarter-final with Worthing Thunder.

Officials Steve Ellis and Michael Di Bonito fled the University College Worcester hall after Worthing fans and players stormed the court at the conclusion of Wolves' 84-81 victory.

The pair had to be locked in dressing rooms.

Worthing were angered by decisions made during the match and made moves towards Ellis and Di Bonito at the final whistle.

A handful of Worthing supporters also staged a one-hour sit-in after the match and only left when told the referees had gone.

Ellis and Di Bonito waited in their dressing rooms before being smuggled out of a back door to waiting cars.

Wolves director of basketball Mick Donovan said the situation stemmed from decisions early in the contest.

He said: "In the first-half, some of the Worthing players were concerned about some of the calls they were getting.

"At half-time the two officials alerted us to make sure stewards were ready at the end of the game to get the dressing rooms open because they thought there might be a bit of trouble.

''It was a typical cup game and a lot of contact.'

"Both refs sensed bad feeling at the end and ran to the changing rooms. As they ran, four Worthing supporters ran on and tried to get to the refs.

"We managed to keep the spectators away and pushed two off the refs. They were swinging fists but they didn't hit them.''

A Worthing Thunder spokeswoman was unaware an incident took place but added: "The referees ran off the court at the end and no one saw them again."