Landlord stabbed in raid at The Harrows pub

A pub landlord was stabbed by an intruder during an early morning raid.

The landlord of The Harrows, on the A449 between Four Ashes and Coven, was today being treated in hospital after being stabbed in the arm.

He only took over the pub, two weeks ago. It is believed the victim, named locally as Phil Reynolds, confronted the intruder after hearing noises downstairs.

The attacker ran out of the pub along School Lane towards Coven at 4.40am yesterday.

The offender has been described as a white man, aged in his mid-to-late teens and approximately 5ft 4ins. Det Sgt Paul Bentley, from Stafford Police, said: "The offender would have had blood on his clothing."

The Harrows, owned by Staffordshire pub chain Punch Taverns, closed in June but reopened under a new landlord shortly afterwards and was taken on by a new team two weeks ago.