A PUB and hotel and a string of vehicles were targeted as vandals embarked on an early morning spree of damage running into thousands of pounds in the centre of Washford.

Two windows of the Washford Inn were shattered after they were rammed with a table and blackboard menu and a total of six cars were damaged in the incident on Sunday.

Vernon Merritt, whose wife Natasha is the licensee of the pub that borders the West Somerset Railway, spoke this week of his fears that the vandals had managed to get into the premises as he waited for the police to arrive.

It was very frightening because I had no idea whether they were inside or whether they had run off, he said.

The hotel side of our business was full and we must have had about a dozen guests in so we were pretty concerned for their safety, as well as ourselves.

Mr Merritt was woken by the sound of shouting at about 2am and, when he looked out of his bedroom window, saw one man wielding one of the pubs outside tables.

He threw it with some force at the bar window and the glass shattered everywhere, he said.

The blackboard menu caused similar damage to the restaurant window.

Mr Merritt said he believed two men were involved in the attack as, although he only saw one, he could hear him shouting at someone else.

Police were on the scene within five minutes of Mr Merritts emergency call for help and officers were able to confirm that the culprits appeared to have fled the scene.

However, Mr Merritt discovered the vandals had also attacked his Citroen car, damaging the windscreen and bonnet.

As I was checking out the damage, a woman came out of an alleyway near the pub in her dressing gown and said her car had also been attacked, he said.

Her partner, who had apparently chased the culprits, had blood on his face after it seems he was assaulted by one of them.

Mr Merritt said it quickly emerged that other cars in the area had also been vandalised.

It was nothing but wanton destruction of property by mindless individuals and the total cost of it all will probably run into thousands of pounds.

Mr Merritt, whose wife has run the pub for the last 18 months, said local people had since spoken of their disbelief at the chain of events.

They said it was very unusual and nobody could remember anything like this happening in Washford before.

He said he hoped footprints and specks of blood left at the scene would help police to track down those responsible.

He has since sent a letter to Avon and Somerset police Chief Constable Colin Port praising the actions of officers who responded to his emergency call.

I am aware that the police sometimes receive a bad press but certainly in this instance they showed their true value to the community, he said.

A spokesman for the force said in addition to the damage at the pub, Peugeot, MG and Rover vehicles were damaged in Castle Mead and a Renault in Station Road.

He confirmed that investigations were underway and said officers were appealing for anyone with information, or any witnesses to contact them.

Calls can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.