We ran out of restaurant without paying for our £56 meal… people hate us for it but we had a good reason to

A COUPLE who ran out of a restaurant without paying for their meal say they had a good reason to after they were shamed for dashing online.

Ruby McGrath, 32, and Suzy Hopley, 33, had a £56 meal with their two kids at the Smithy Arms in Swinton, North Yorkshire earlier this week.

However, they left without paying - causing landlady Lisa McMaster to share CCTV footage of the pair.

In a post on Facebook, she wrote: “How nice of you to come for a meal and drinks and run without paying. Staying on a campsite near.”

But today the couple hit back at the post - saying they were forced to leave because of “an emergency”.

In a since deleted Instagram post, Ruby wrote: “Usually I'd ignore ridiculous online hate, but this also involves my children.

"I'm just popping on to say that last night we had a delicious meal and experienced brilliant service at The Smithy Arms in Swinton, but sadly our visit was cut short and we had to dash - poor Frank didn't even get to have his ice cream - due to a personal emergency. 

“Our plan was to call the pub asap to let them know the situation and then hurry back to sort the bill. 

“As we were camping, we realised once we got back that we had zero b***** reception and had to wait until this morning to contact the pub and clear the bill!

“Anyway, long story short, all is well, the bill and generous tip have been paid. 

“There are no hard feelings between myself and the lovely people at The Smithy Arms, yet the internet has gone nuts.”

Speaking to the MailOnline, Ruby further explained that they “had a medical issue” in their group.

It comes after another pub told how a family racked up a £215 bill before doing a runner while pretending to go for a smoke.

In June the manager at the Fisherman's Arms in Newlyn, , claimed that the group had three courses and several cocktails over the three-hour sitting before making off.