The beat group The Who smashed up guitars, amplifiers and microphones before 3,500 teenagers in the Locarno Ballroom, in the New Bristol Centre, last night.

Peter Townshend banged the floor with his guitar and then took several swipes at an amplifier.

It rocked to and fro but remained upright despite several more attacks. Microphones were also knocked flying.

As their set built up, one girl tried to clamber over crash barriers in front of the stage.

But her attempt to reach the group was thwarted when she fell between the barriers and the stage. Stewards rescued her.

As the group left the stage, stewards struggled to keep back the screaming teenagers.

All day, ballroom staff had prepared for this, their first full house since the hall opened three months ago.

For general manager, Mr. B.A. Elmer-Smith, the dance was nothing new. He brought The Who to Stevenage twice to play to crowds of more than 2,000.

"This is the group which will replace the Beatles," he forecast last night. "I think they’ve got a different sound."

Teenagers started queueing at 9.30 a.m. for tickets.