AN investigation has been launched by police after cash was taken from a pub following a ‘disgraceful’ burglary.

Police said they were called to The Dog and Otter in Great Harwood at around 1am yesterday after an incident which happened overnight.

Staff at the pub said approximately £3,000 was stolen during the burglary which took place between 7pm and 11pm on Sunday.

Landlord and Landlady Iain Jones and Alison Foden said: “They went in through the upstairs fire escape door and they stole the contents of a safe.

“We are understandably angry and upset but we are leaving it in the hands of the police.”

Residents said they were shocked at the ‘disgraceful’ crime at the pub.

One Cliffe Lane resident said: “It’s normally a nice little area, we don’t get much trouble.

“To hear that this has happened does comes as a shock, it’s scary.”

Another resident said: “It’s just disgraceful to see idiots acting this way.

“The people behind the bar are all working hard to run a business and then people are doing this.

“I just hope they didn’t get away with much and that they’re found and punished.”

Another resident said: “You sometimes get dodgy pubs about, but this isn’t one of them, it’s a great place.

“It came as a big shock to me, it’s just wrong that someone would do this.”

Cllr Stephanie Haworth, who represents the Overton ward on Hyndburn Council where the pub is located, labelled the burglary ‘an utter disgrace’.

She said: “Nothing surprises me anymore I’m afraid.

“It’s very difficult, but if people are going to be poor then this sort of thing is going to happen more and more.

“There needs to be more of a police presence in Harwood, but again with the cuts from central government I understand the issues.”

The calls for more police come after Lancashire Police closed the Great Harwood police station in Hesketh Street in July as it was ‘underutilised and no longer fit for purpose’.

No arrests have been made following the incident in Cliffe Lane.

A police spokesman said: “Unknown offenders entered the pub at the rear and took an unknown amount of cash. An investigation is still ongoing.”

Anyone with any information should contact the police on 101 quoting crime reference number ED1714478.