Chinese puzzle; EYEWITNESSES SAY THUGS IN CELTIC TOPS ATTACKED IBROX ACE STAR'S DAD CLAIMS GERS FANS SMASHED RESTAURANT WINDOW.

Byline: FRANK HURLEY

RANGERS star Chris Burke's dad bizarrely claimed yesterday that the footballer's OWN fans smashed a restaurant window as he dined there.

The restaurant's owner had told how teenage thugs in Celtic colours carried out the hammer attack after spotting Burke and his family eating a Chinese meal.

And neighbours of the China House in Shettleston, Glasgow, backed up the boss's story.

But Robert Burke, 43, insisted the youths accidentally shattered the 5ft, plate-glass pane as they tried to attract his son's attention.

He said: "There was no hammer and no Celtic fans; none of the teenagers wore Celtic strips.

"They were all Rangers fans and they were knocking on the window waving at Chris when it smashed.

"Maybe the glass was already cracked?"

Chris, 21, had been with his dad, mum Annette, 41, brother Craig, 14, and sister Nicole, 11, celebrating a friend's 21st birthday.

Restaurant owner Yeo Yuen, 40, described how the gang battered the window with their fists then hit it with a hammer when they clocked the Rangers winger.

Shocked diners ducked for cover as the pane shattered and the gang fled before police arrived.

But Mr Burke, a Celtic fan, said: "Three or four youths, between 11 and 13-years-old, were chapping the window and waving to Chris.

"Chris waved back but suddenly the window broke.

"No one was taunting anyone or being aggressive.

"They probably got a bigger fright than us.

"The police were called but we stayed and finished our meal.

"When we went outside there were a few youths who asked Chris for his autograph.

"There was no hostility whatsoever."

Last night witnesses insisted that the yobs were dressed in the colours of Rangers' Old Firm rivals.

Two women living above the restaurant told how the gang of five to six boys had been hanging around opposite the diner on Saturday night.

The women - who didn't want to be named because they feared the thugs would target them - said most of them were wearing Celtic scarves.

One added: "Me and my pal went off to my sister's for a few minutes.

"By the time we came back the window had been smashed and the police were everywhere."

Another local man, Thomas Wood, said: "Three of the boys had Celtic tops on - but that does not make them Celtic fans. They are in no way representative of the vast number of good Celtic fans around here."

Staff at the China House Restaurant last night said Mr Yuen was not available for comment.

Strathclyde Police confirmed that they were still hunting for the vandals.

A spokesman said: "Police were called to a report of vandalism at the China House Restaurant on Shettleston Road around 9.40pm on Saturday.

"It appears that a gang had smashed the shop window. Inquiries are ongoing."

Burke was abused by Celtic supporters who pulled up alongside his car more than a year ago as he drove home from a match.

CAPTION(S):

CHRIS CROSSED: Burke was dining out with family and friends; SMASHED: The Chinese restaurant window