A BURGLAR was disturbed and fled the scene after breaking into a pub in Corfe Castle.

Police are investigating after the incident at The Castle Inn at East Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The occupants were woken to the noise of someone moving around inside the premises at around 3am.

After being disturbed, it is believed the burglar fled out the back across the fields.

A chair was discovered at the scene, which had been used to climb in through the pub's kitchen window, which had been forced.

Officers stopped a man leaving the area on a moped and carried out a search. 

They found the man in possession of screwdrivers. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary in relation to the incident and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area between 3am and 4am should call police on 101 quoting incident 10:0029.