THIEVES stole two bouncy castles from a pub near Worcester and attempted to steal another from a pub in the city within the space of 24 hours this week.

Criminals struck at The Bell in Lower Broadheath some time between 2am and 6am on Monday, August 25, stealing two deflated bouncy castles which had been left out to dry following a beer festival at the weekend.

This is the second time thieves have struck at the pub in the space of two months - in July another bouncy castle was stolen and had only been replaced a week before both this month's incident.

Assistant manager Jackie Philpotts said she was most upset that children visiting the pub with their families would not be able to enjoy the castles.

"Because it had been such a busy weekend and it was raining we just left them out to dry," she said.

"You can roll them up and fold them so that's what they (the thieves) must have done).

She added the pub would be holding a fundraising car wash and raffle this weekend in the hope they could raise enough cash to buy a new castle.

The car wash will be held at the pub in Martley Road between 9am and 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday while the raffle will be held throughout the weekend.

The castles - which are worth about £600 each - are blue and yellow and feature images and characters from Pixar animated films Toy Story and Cars.

Just after midnight the next evening a pair of thieves - believed to be the same men responsible for the Bell thefts - struck at the Bedwardine in Bromyard Road, Worcester.

Khamala Randall - who jointly runs the pub with her husband Ian - said the pair had pulled up in front of the building in a blue Renault Megane just as it was closing.

"Just a few minutes after the bar manager locked up they reversed onto where the bouncy castle was," she said.

"One of the men got out an unpegged it - quite professionally - and then his mate got out so they could put it in the boot.

"That's when we saw them on CCTV and my husband went out with the dog.

They sped off with the bouncy castle hanging out of the boot and he followed them".

Although the criminals - who were both wearing peaked caps and had their faces covered - got away the bouncy castle was found dumped in a nearby lay-by.

Mrs Randall said they were comparing their CCTV footage with that from The Bell to see if it could help track the thieves down.

A blue Renault Megane was also seen in the Lower Broadheath area around the time of the theft from The Bell.

Thieves stole a bouncy castle from the Doverdale Arms in Stalls Farm Road, Droitwich, at about 4.15am on Sunday, May 4.

West Mercia Police is appealing for anyone who knows anything about either of the thefts to contact them on 101.