A BOURNEMOUTH town centre pub sustained some £15,000-worth of damage in an alleged arson attack, prosecutors claim.

William Sheen, who is of no fixed abode, is accused of a series of offences at the George Tapps in Old Christchurch Road on the night of Wednesday, August 21.

The defendant, 22, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court last week. He has not yet entered a plea to charges of arson, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker and causing unnecessary suffering to Police Dog (PD) Gus.

Prosecutors claim he hurled cans of food at the animal during an incident.

As reported, armed police, firefighters and paramedics were called to reports that a man had barricaded himself in a storeroom and was attempting to start a fire just after 10.35pm.

A man was arrested and taken to hospital for injuries sustained while he was being detained. The injuries were not serious.

Sheen was remanded into custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court later this month.