A landlord has spoken of his disappointment and frustration after a mindless vandal wrecked an antique light at the front of one of his pubs, while filming it on a mobile phone.

Andy Macdonald, who runs two branches of Ships and Giggles - one in Burnley and one in Preston - caught the act of criminal damage on CCTV, and says he's absolutely gutted as the light has been there for generations.

Posting on social media on Monday, he said: "HELP FIND THESE VANDALS (((PLEASE SHARE))).

"These horrible people smashed my big antique light (it’s been at the forefront of my bar for longer than I’ve been alive) and ripped all the flag decor from my bar, Ships and Giggles, Preston.

"Watch to the end...when you think it’s all over they continue to come back three times...whilst filming it.

"There's two ways to do this - I need to find them and they pay for the damages, or by 6pm if I haven’t I’ll inform the police and go down that route."

The incident happened at around 4.30am on Sunday at Andy's Ships and Giggles bar on Fylde Road in Preston, close to the new university piazza. 

Mr Macdonald continued: "That light has been there forever - for generations - I'm bloody gutted.

"I’m just disheartened by it all - when you think you’re just starting to find your feet after the last year and a half and this happens.

"It's just so easy to lose heart in the industry when you’ve constantly got new problems.

"I know the obvious option is to rise above it but you can’t help but feel personal about it.

"I really hope that this video doesn’t just find the people, but it raises awareness, not just about this kind of thing happening, but hopefully acts as a deterrent so it doesn’t happen again."

Mr Macdonald has yet to report the incident to the police and says this option is a last resort as he hopes the culprits will come forward and offer to pay for the damage. 

The pub boss gained notoriety during Tier 3 lockdown restrictions last October when he found a loophole in the Government's plans and began offering 1p meals to customers so he could remain open and save his business. 

Lancashire pub owner will now sell meals for 1p so he can stay open under Tier 3 restrictions

At the time he said: "I am doing everything in my power to keep my business afloat and in the safest way possible.

"What we are doing at Ships and Giggles is trying to shine some light during these mentally and financially dark times.

"I, like many others, have suffered extremely mentally, but this week I’ve been happy with a massive sense of achievement and satisfaction."