A NIGHT out at a popular pub almost turned to disaster when two customers and two staff members were rushed to hospital after drinking anti-freeze.

Customers looked on in shock as Ian Harber and Jamie Anderson, who are both 22, were rushed to Darent Valley Hospital’s A&E department.

They were joined there by two staff members, who in an attempt to discover what the men had drank, downed the anti-freeze themselves.

Delivery driver Mr Harber and retail manager Mr Anderson had been enjoying a night out with their girlfriends when they popped into the Bear and Ragged Staff, London Road, Crayford.

Mr Harber from Prince’s Road, Dartford, said: “We ordered two Aftershocks which we downed and within 10 seconds were violently sick about three times. I knew something was wrong.” He and Mr Anderson returned to the bar to complain to the barmaid and pub manager, who then also tried the drinks and were taken ill.

All four were rushed to Darent Valley Hospital where they learnt anti-freeze can cause blindness and is fatal in larger quantities.

Worried staff contacted experts at the toxicology department of Guy’s Hospital, in central London, who told them the only antidote to the poison was drinking high strength alcohol such as vodka or whisky.

Mr Harber added: “I couldn’t believe we were in hospital and being told to drink five or six shots of whisky.

“It was a very strange night — it was supposed to be a celebration of being with my girlfriend a year, instead I ended up on a drip in hospital drinking whisky.” Mr Harber and Crayford resident Mr Anderson, along with the bar staff were released the next morning.

It is thought the men were served the poison after bar staff unknowingly used display bottles filled with anti-freeze which had been used to make empty Aftershock bottles look full.

Bexley Council environmental health and trading standards officers have taken samples of the drinks for analysis and an investigation may lead to legal proceedings.

Mr Harber and Mr Anderson say they are currently waiting for the results of the investigation and are seeking legal advice about the July 26 incident.

A spokesman for the pub’s owner Greene King said the staff members who had set up the display had been suspended the previous week in connection with a separate incident and an investigation was underway. He added the present staff had no reason to think they should not use the display bottles.