Tourists at a beach resort in Mexico were caught up in a rival gun battle on Thursday.

It happened at Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun.

Guests posted pictures on social media of holidaymakers gathering in the lobbies of two neighbouring hotels, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun and the Azul Beach Resort.

Mike Sington, a guest at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera wrote on Twitter: “Guests are telling me they were playing volleyball on the beach, gunman approached firing gun.

“Everyone ran from beach and swimming pools. Staff hustled us into hidden rooms behind the kitchens.”

“I’ve never been so scared, literally shaking.”