SMASH-and-grab raiders are being hunted after they pulled a safe through a wall in a night-time raid on a pub near Basingstoke.

The burglars smashed their way into The Swan, in Sherborne St John, put a rope around a safe, tied this to a getaway vehicle and then dragged the safe through the wall.

Startled Martin Longley, manager of The Swan, had a rude awakening at 2.50am on Tuesday when he heard the pub’s security alarms going off and a loud thud coming from downstairs.

Mr Longley thought a car had crashed into the building, and went to investigate. But in the short time it took him to go downstairs, the burglars had already made off with the safe, containing several thousand pounds of cash.

Mr Longley said: “I wasn’t sure what had happened, and I thought someone had crashed a car. It wasn’t until the police came that I realised part of the wall had come off.”

Mr Longley, who has only been at The Swan for eight months, added: “They must have known where the safe was. The speed they were in and out, it only took five minutes.”

The burglars smashed through a wall on the outside of the building before forcing their way through another door inside to get into the room where the safe was.

Mr Longley, who is preparing for a busy festive period at The Swan, said: “It’s inconvenient, but we are still open.”

The police are now appealing for information following the burglary at the pub, in Kiln Road, which happened between 2.40am and 2.55am.

Sergeant Trevor Taylor, of Basingstoke police, said: “I am appealing to anyone with information about this incident to come forward and speak to us.

“Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in the area during the early hours of Tuesday? I would urge anyone with information to get in touch.”

Anyone who can help the police inquiry is asked to contact Basingstoke police on 101 or the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.