A landlady has branded thieves who broke into a pub “scum” after they stole a charity box containing hundreds of pounds and caused more than £1,000 worth of damage.

The Wat Tyler Inn in Dartford was broken into on 6.20am on Thursday last week, with thugs making off with a collection worth £350 destined for the Down’s Syndrome Association.

They also stole £450 worth of alcohol and kicked down the door to the Grade II listed building, leaving the owners with a hefty repair bill.

The Wat Tyler was the third Dartford business to be targeted within a week.

Thieves made off with bottles of alcohol and cash from the till at the Dartford Greek Taverna in Hythe Street on March 14, and on March 9 it was reported a man entered Pizza Hut in Market Street and threatened staff with a knife before leaving with what is believed to be £200 in cash.

Police are investigating all three crimes.

Tracey Barrow, 50, runs The Wat Tyler and was two days into a holiday at her caravan in Sheerness when she heard the news and rushed back to the pub.

Ms Barrow said: “It upset me because of the liberties they took when they got in, drinking alcohol and taking the charity money.

“They took the till drawer even though there wasn’t any money in there. I think they’re scum.”

Captured on CCTV.

The pub, in the High Street, has been serving punters in the town for centuries.

A brief history on a board outside dates it back to 1381, but Ms Barrow believes it could be older than that.

It makes replacing the door expensive. Ms Barrow said: “They kicked our door in and, being an old building, it will cost us a fortune.

“We are a listed building so we have to consult English Heritage. It’s going to cost more than £1,000.”

The money in the charity box had been raised through raffles as well as donations from customers.

It has been replaced by Ms Barrow and Michael Aynge, who owns The Wat Tyler. Ms Barrow said she did not understand why people would steal from such a worthy cause.

She said: “They’re taking something away from people who really need it.

“It really hurts, it really does.

“I hope they catch them because we’ll be taking it further.”

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote XY 91 90 14.