A memorial bench dedicated to a pub's loyal punter has been vandalised by a mallet-wielding thug.

CCTV footage shows a hooded yob ripping the bench from the ground at The Fat Ox in St Michaels, Tenterden, and smashing it with a large hammer shortly after 3am on New Year's Day.

The vandal was captured on CCTV

The seat was installed by the family of Darren Barnes, known as 'Barney', a well-loved regular who died in 2016.

Carole Lofthouse, landlady of the Shepherd Neame pub, says she is 'astounded' by the callous act.

She said: "I didn't hear or see anything but the next day the barmaid came in and found the bench upside down.

"I thought it would have been a group of kids who were going home in the New Year and got into mischief, so when I found the footage and saw what actually happened, I was astounded because it was so deliberate.

"Barney was really well-thought of by a lot of people. Everyone is very upset about it and so is his mother.

"I feel whoever did this had something personal to do with Barney. I don't think it was an axe to grind with the pub because there are a lot of other things out there they could have smashed with a hammer."

The bench is now being repaired by a carpenter who offered to fix it free of charge after hearing what had happened.

It should be back in its rightful place outside the 18th century inn in the next few weeks but in the meantime, Mrs Lofthouse hopes the culprit will be identified.

The family-run pub, on the A28 Ashford Road, underwent a major makeover and reopened to customers with a new menu in October last year.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/1669/22.

You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form by clicking here.