HOMOPHOBIC insults have been spray-painted across a pub car park.

Police were called to reports of an incident involving criminal damage to the Bayley Arms Hotel, in Hurst Green, Clitheroe, on Thursday.

The pub, which has been damaged on three separate occasions, was hit by vandals who are believed to have broken plant pots at the site and sprayed pasta sauce on the front door.

A police spokesman said: “Hate crime and criminal behaviour are not acceptable.”

Customers also voiced their grievances to the police after they found it impossible to contact the owners about their Christmas meal bookings on December 9 and December 21.

The Hurst Green establishment is under new management after claims the previous owners abandoned the pub without warning.

David Lee is the new temporary landlord at the pub and vowed to keep the place open as usual over the festive period.

Councillors and residents said the vandal attack was not the sort of thing that happened in Hurst Green, which was named as the most improved medium village in this year’s Lancashire Best Kept Village competition.

Cllr Janet Alcock, who represents the area, said: “I completely condemn this.

“The two guys who had it did a runner a few weeks ago owing businesses and customers money.

“This is not the sort of thing we are used to seeing in our village.
“There is no place for vandalism. 

“It’s a nice village and the villagers rightfully take pride in it.

“In the 21st century we should move on from homophobic slurs and graffiti vandalism.”

Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, said customers’ Christmas bookings would be ‘honoured’ despite the rumoured changeover. 

A Punch Taverns spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Bayley Arms is open and trading and all customers who had made Christmas bookings were contacted to say those bookings would be honoured.”

“We wish all of the team and customers of the Bayley Arms a very happy Christmas.”

Anyone with any information about the incidents should email Katie.Ferguson@lancashire.pnn.police.uk, quoting crime reference EG1708904.