MEMBERS of the Glazer family were attacked by United fans wielding ketchup as they enjoyed a night on the town.

Reds' directors Bryan and Avi Glazer had their cars splattered in tomato sauce after making a hasty exit from The Restaurant Bar and Grill in the city centre.

The pair are sons of United owner and US tycoon Malcolm Glazer, whose family controversially grabbed the reins at Old Trafford in 2005 amid protests by fans.

The M.E.N. understands that word spread via United fan websites on Thursday night that they were enjoying a night on the town.

A group of disgruntled supporters tracked them down at the John Dalton Street restaurant and waited outside. It is thought that the brothers, who were with two other men, were tipped off about the group's presence.

Witnesses say they were bundled into a waiting Audi car, which sped off towards Deansgate. But the high-powered vehicle was forced to stop at the first set of traffic lights, where the fans pounced.

They hurled verbal abuse before launching the ketchup attack with an industrial-sized bottle. The sauce splattered over the vehicles, but did not hit the brothers. Nobody was harmed in the incident, which the club has dismissed as `a childish prank'.

One of the fans involved said they were trying to highlight discontent at the pair's presence in the city.

He added: "What their family have done to United is a disgrace. They have priced genuine fans out of Old Trafford with ludicrous ticket pricing and policy.

"People who have supported this club for more than 50 years through the bad times can't afford to go any more because of them."

The long-term supporter, who did not wish to be named, said: "We wanted to make a point and embarrass them and I think we did that.

"We certainly did a good job on the car, which was covered. The Glazers have said they will speak to us, but that has never happened.

"What happened is a non-violent action by a group of disgruntled fans."

A club spokesman said: "It's a childish prank. However, we are curious as to where they got the bottle of sauce from - it's not the kind of thing you would carry around."