A PUB landlady says she was left “livid” after yobs smashed up a garden shelter that had been in place for less than a week.

Lynne Baldwin, who runs Gulliver’s Tavern in Wimborne Road, Kinson, said the four-metre umbrella shelter had cost £1,600 and had been “wrecked” by a group of youngsters in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Lynne said she was woken at around 1.30am.

“There was all this commotion going on outside and I opened up one of the windows and it was all these kids outside,” she said.

The landlady at the pub said she shouted at the group, who soon dispersed.

But when she inspected the damage in the morning she discovered that the umbrella had been broken off at its base and supports had been broken.

Lynne added: “When I came down in the morning it was wrecked. We’ve only had it six days.

“I’m absolutely livid because it took us a long while to get it sorted.

“There were lots of them and this group seem to be going around late at night.

“What were they doing out at 1.30 in the morning?”

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed that officers were called to the historic pub – which takes its name from the famous smuggler Sir Isaac Gulliver, who used the Kinson area to hide his ill-gotten gains – and are investigating an incident of criminal damage to the garden umbrella.

As of yesterday, no arrests had been made.

Any witnesses, or those with information, are urged to call police on 101, quoting incident 8:77.

Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.