POLICE are searching for burglars who targeted two pubs in the Malvern Hills area last weekend.

An occupant at the Yew Tree Inn, Colwall Green, was awoken by noises inside the building at around 3.15am on Saturday morning.

The occupant went to check what was happening and was threatened by an offender.

During the burglary cash was stolen, and the gambling machine and pool table attacked.

A similar incident occurred earlier that night at the Wyche Inn, Malvern.

Manager Chris Ray said three men had entered the pub through a ground- floor window.

"What they didn't realise is that you can't see our alarm from outside because all our wiring is internal," he said.

When the alarm went off, Mr Ray and several people in the flats next door saw two men run away down Wyche Road.

Fortunately, they were empty-handed.

No-one saw where the third man went.

"I wouldn't advise them to come back," he said.

"We have taken extra security precautions and updated our existing security," he said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the Colwall Green incident.

Anyone who was in the area around the Yew Tree Inn between 2am and 4am on Saturday and saw suspicious people or vehicles should contact DC Roger Warley at Hereford CID on 08457 444888.