The foundations of a part-built bungalow were ripped apart by a Calne builder on a digger in an apparent dispute over payment.

Kevin Mayo, 48, of Chaveywell Court, Calne, was arrested by police after he and a group of about 20 friends, family and fellow builders, went to the home of Spencer Hillier, at Winchcombe Farm, Great Cheverell, at about 7am on Friday with an industrial digger.

Mr Mayo, who was supported at the scene by his partner Karen Odell and his mum, as well as his employees, climbed aboard and proceeded to tear up the foundations of a bungalow he had started to build two months ago. A number of the other workmen blocked off the lane leading to the farm with their vans.

Mr Hillier is believed to have been inside the main house on the site and called the police but he didn’t come out and confront the group.

After about 45 minutes, by which time most of the destruction had been carried out, police arrived and asked the group to leave the site.

Mr Mayo, who has been a builder in Wiltshire for 28 years, was called to Salisbury Police Station on Saturday for questioning. He was arrested and later charged with causing criminal damage and harassment.

The incident is thought to have been sparked by a dispute over payment for work Mr Mayo carried out on the property earlier this year, with a number of builders at the scene claiming Mr Hillier owed them money.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “We attended an incident at 7.17am on Friday after reports of a group of builders smashing up the foundations of a property in Great Cheverell.

“Officers attended the location and found a group of people and vans outside. On the site there were a further group of people crowding around and someone on a digger pulling up the foundations.

“They were all told to leave the premises and the damage was photographed.

“Kevin Mayo, a 48-year-old man from Calne, was arrested at 1pm on Saturday on suspicion of causing criminal damage and harassment. He was charged later that day and released on bail with the condition that he does not contact Spencer Hillier either directly or indirectly.”

Mr Mayo will face the charges at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on November 17.