SAINTS and England ace James Beattie was kicked out of a bar and officially warned by police after a disturbance - which all started when the striker "stuck his face in a bowl of muffins".

The football star was warned under the Public Order Act after he and friends clashed with other drinkers on Sunday evening.

Bar manager Tommy Roberts, who banned him from the premises, said: "I don't care if he's an England footballer who earns thousands of pounds a week or not - he should behave himself when he comes in here.

"He was arrogant, staff felt intimidated and I demand a written apology from him."

Mr Roberts said trouble started when 26-year-old Beattie "stuck his face in a bowl of muffins".

"He apologised but then some glasses were smashed and drinks tipped on the floor. Someone started calling him names and he squared up to them."

Mr Roberts said Beattie and others were asked to leave Bar Med in Bournemouth but shortly afterwards "he pushed his way back in".

Beattie, pictured above, rang Mr Roberts to apologise for his behaviour yesterday afternoon.

"He said he would personally say sorry if he comes into Bar Med again and I am now reviewing the ban," said Mr Roberts.

Dorset police confirmed that Beattie was one of a number of people, from two different groups, warned under the Public Order Act.

Worth about £7m, he is reputed to earn more than £15,000 a week and has admitted spending up to £50,000 per year on designer clothes.

He splashed out £97,000 on a top-of-the-range Porsche and also once owned a luxury £160,000 yacht.

Beattie has scored three goals this season, one during Southampton's 2-1 defeat at Norwich on Saturday.

Beattie was due back in training yesterday morning. It is club policy that players are not allowed to drink 24 hours before a training session or 48 hours before a match.

A Southampton Football Club spokesman said: "We are still waiting to ascertain the full facts before deciding what action, if any, to take. This will remain a private matter between James Beattie and the club."

Beattie's agents, First Artists, said: "We understand he was in the bar and being subjected to an awful lot of abuse for no apparent reason. He tried to leave with a group of friends trying to protect him and a fracas ensued.

"He was not involved and has apologised."