Businesses in Bull Yard, Southwell and the Rodney Pub have been vandalised over the night

Landlords and shop owners have been left feeling “unsafe” and concerned for their businesses after the frontages of a number of shops and stores in a town centre were vandalised last night (July 23).

Shops in Bull Yard and the Admiral Rodney pub on King Street were targeted in Southwell

Shops targeted include the Best Sports & Rackets Limited, Chess Master cafe, The Bee Queen Honey and the piano studio.

Furniture and pots were smashed, leaving dirt and glass spread across the floor.

Irina Minas is the owner of Chess Master cafe and The Bee Queen Honey, both on Bull Yard, and said that the incidents had left her feeling “unsafe”.

She said: “It’s very sad and I feel very upset as someone could have been hurt, and also glad the shop window was not smashed.

“The shops are struggling as the locals are not visiting the town and not spending money.

“[The customers] just walking around on Saturdays is not helping us, and on top of this we had to deal with a few criminals.”

Sherry Cleary, an employee at Saracens Securities Limited, the company that owns Bull Yard, said: “It is shocking and heart-breaking how someone could do this.

“Some of the things that were vandalised were provided by the tenants themselves as a way of making the area look better.

“There are a lot of sad people in Southwell today.”

The owner of the Piano Studio on Bull Yard, Andrew Martin has been a business owner in the town for 17 years.

He said: “It’s time for the landlord Saracen Securities, Southwell Town Council, and the local police to work together to prevent this from happening again.

“There is a strong sense of community in Southwell. However, there are insidious elements even within the strongest communities, and alcohol and drugs are likely to have been a factor.”

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “We are aware of multiple reports of criminal damage across parts of Southwell last night (23 July).

“We are unsure of exactly what time the disorder took place, although several hanging baskets and plants were found damaged outside different businesses in the village.

“The vandalism was discovered earlier this morning, with different parts of King Street, Burgage and Bull Yard all found to have been impacted.

“It really should go without saying but this type of antisocial behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are in the process of looking through CCTV to identify whoever was responsible.

“We will also be conducting visible patrols around the village to provide residents with some reassurance.”

Anyone who has any information is asked to report it, either to the police on 101, or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.