A landlady who narrowly escaped a blaze which partially destroyed her pub last month has suffered a second devastating blow.Heartless burglars smashed their way into the living quarters of the empty Three Horseshoes in Wheathill as licensee Lesley Bates slept in a caravan in the car park.
Raiders gained entry to the pub, on the main B4634 Bridgnorth to Ludlow road, last Thursday night. They failed to steal anything but caused a great deal of damage to the pub’s living quarters where Mrs Bates stored the remainder of her personal belongings not affected by the blaze.
The heartbroken publican, who is struggling to re-open the hostelry, said: “What little amount of private possessions that were not ruined in the fire were strewn all over the place by the burglars. It was just vandalism.”
She said it was a miracle that her pet rottweiler Brannigan was not disturbed by the break-in.
The pub has been closed since the end of last month when flames ripped through the first floor of the building causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Mrs Bates was able to escape the blaze after pet Brannigan woke her up as fire swept through a bedroom, lounge and the pub’s roof.
She had been hoping to have the pub open again by now to cater for the busy festive period.