Two pranksters who streaked in front of the Royal Box at the Derby said sorry to the Queen and vowed: "We'll never do it again."

Cheeky pals Michael Dale and Spencer Cunliffe were under starkers orders as they stripped off and gave chase while horses thundered down the Epsom finishing straight at Saturday's big race.

Thousands of shocked fans - including the Queen and Queen Mother - watched in amazement as the Earls Colne lads tore naked towards the finishing line at the world's most famous flat race.

Builder Spencer, 29, said: "There were 130,000 people there cheering louder for us than for the horses - they were going absolutely mad.

"The crowd cheered us on as we were running down the final furlong," said digger-driver Michael, 28.

"It was the best feeling I've ever had."

Millions of TV viewers worldwide also witnessed the saucy stunt. But Michael and Spencer, who share a house in Foundry Lane, claim they were unaware of the royal presence at the race.

"We knew there was a Royal Box but we didn't know the Queen and Queen Mother were there," said a repentant Spencer. "We would like to send our apologies to the Royal Family."

Michael, whose family come from Chelmsford, added: "It was just a bit of a laugh. We never meant to offend anybody."

The race for the line wasn't quite a photo finish. Spencer managed to sprint the full final furlong - 240 yards in front of the grandstand - and past the post.

Stewards caught up with Michael as he was just seconds from glory. "I was about ten yards short - I was gutted," he said.

They pair had agreed to surrender as soon as they were caught. Michael said: "It was just high jinks which started as a bit of fun and ended as a bit of fun.

"We said when we were caught we would take our punishment. When I reached the bloke who got me I tried go underneath him, but I slipped because the going was only good-to-firm."

Spencer said: "I managed to lose two stewards because I'm quite fast, but in the end there were three more chaps so I just laid down on the course."

The dynamic duo were arrested but later let off with a caution.

"The police and the powers-that-be were brilliant," said Michael. We've never done anything like this before and we are not likely to do it again. And we've not been banned from the Derby."

Baring all - cheeky pals Michael Dale and Spencer Cunliffe

Stag party race prank

Michael and Spencer have been "best mates" since meeting at the Ramsey School in Halstead 15 years ago and have travelled the world together.

They went to Surrey's Epsom racecourse on Saturday for Halstead pal Paul Andress's stag party.

Spencer said: "When Michael was 18 he went to Australia on his own for a year. He was going to do it in Perth when Australia were playing England for the Ashes but he chickened out.

"We knew we had this stag night coming up so we both decided we'd do it together. We were undressing as we waited for the race to pass. Then we hurtled over the fence after them.

Michael said: "We'd only had about four or five pints. If we'd had any more we wouldn't have made it."

Spencer said: "We've got friends on holiday in Spain who saw it in the papers over there."

He added: "I didn't think my mum would be too happy. But she's seen pictures of the Queen and Queen Mother laughing so she's been all right."

Most unforgettable day

Soon-to-be-married Paul Andress said Michael and Spencer made his stag night the "most unforgettable day" of his life.

"We started the day down in Epsom, had a few beers on the bus down there, and they decided it would be a bit of fun to do a streak," said Paul, of St Andrew's Road.

"They went off with about three other guys who helped them over the fence. The rest of us went up to watch the race from the grandstand, not expecting them to do it - but they did and we got a great view!"

Paul, who marries bride-to-be Lisa Brewer in Italy later this month, said: "I'm not surprised they did it. It certainly made it the most unforgettable day."

Claims to fame

Spencer and Michael had their own claims to fame before Saturday's streak.

Michael's cousin is the well-respected actor Ray Winstone, who starred in the films Nil By Mouth, Quadrophenia, Births Marriages and Deaths, and Scum.

And Spencer went to Lexden's Holmwood House prep school and was a year below top pop group Jamiroqai's singer Jay Kay. The pair have now been invited to appear on Channel 4's TFI Friday.

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