BURGLARS drained a pub of beer after smashing through a front door and then making off with hundreds of pounds in cash.Raiders left up to 20 gallons of beer and cider on the floor of the newly refurbished Wheatsheaf pub in Tattingstone, smashed up a pool table and fruit machine and ripped out a cigarette machine causing around �500 of damage.

BURGLARS drained a pub of beer after smashing through a front door and then making off with hundreds of pounds in cash.

Raiders left up to 20 gallons of beer and cider on the floor of the newly refurbished Wheatsheaf pub in Tattingstone, smashed up a pool table and fruit machine and ripped out a cigarette machine causing around �500 of damage.

Kevin Brown, the manager of the Church Road pub was shocked when he saw the damage criminals inflicted on the pub, of which he had only been in charge for four weeks.

The pub is due to open again tonight after the bar area was left three inches deep in the foul-smelling mixture concoction of beer, cider and Guinness following the raid on Monday night at around 9pm.

Mr Brown, 50, who specialises in reversing the fortunes of ailing pubs, said the raiders initially put a log through the upstairs window before using a crowbar to smash the glass in the front door.

He said the burglars probably got away with around �300 in cash as well as causing �500 of damage and wasting �700 of alcohol.

However the pub was due to open again for business today and Mr Brown said he hoped he would have enough beer to serve to villagers.

He added: “I've been in the trade long enough that this has happened before.

“It is a tough time for it to happen - we're in a credit crunch, it's the end of January, and the weather is awful.

“But we will keep going and just hope we get more beer.”

A dark-coloured Vauxhall Vectra was seen in the pub car park at the time of the burglary, driven by a man in his mid 30s wearing a beanie hat. It drove off towards Stutton and then returned past the pub towards the A137 before turning round and heading back to Stutton.

Those with information should call DS Ann Naylor at Sudbury CID on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Have you been the victim of a burglary? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.