Anguish from group as historic former Willenhall pub is vandalised

The windows of The Bell Inn, in Market Place were damaged in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Thought to be Willenhall's oldest building, with a sign proclaiming it dating back to 1659, it closed for business in 1955 but was restored by a history group with help from Heritage England in 2015.

Members of the Willenhall Crime and Community Facebook group spoke of their shock and sadness at the attack on the historic building.

Rob Hamblett said: "Terrible shame the people who work there are always doing a great job and work very hard I hope they get caught whoever did this. 

"It's just mindless idiots killing our town they have to be found.

Amarjit Rayat commented: "We need cameras put up round the town, something needs to be done."

Nicola Taylor said: "There seems no point in getting angry about this situation, as nothing gets done about it. These idiots know they are free to do what they want, when they want, and nobody can touch them."

Members of the group also claimed there was damage done to Morrison's supermarket and The Pinnacle, a former high rise building which was re-opened as modern apartments.

On the damage to The Bell Inn, a West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We are investigating a report of criminal damage at a pub in Willenhall.

"In the early hours of Saturday (8 February) windows were smashed at the Bell Inn in Market Place.

"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with further information can contact us via 101 and Live Chat quoting log number 2324 of 8 February."