Fox trashes pub after falling down chimney

Pub staff who feared a night-time raider had broken in and helped himself to snacks caught the culprit cowering under a seat - an urban FOX.

Bartender Tim Carter opened up The Beehive to find a trail of broken glass, soot from the chimney and shredded crisp packets

He spent two hours cleaning up and was wiping the floor when his hand came within an inch of a furry ball under a bench.

Tim jumped back in surprise and found a fox hiding underneath - and in no hurry to leave the pub in Swindon.

He called on colleague Ian Hurst and manager Andy Marcer and between them they gave the fox the brush off - pushing him out of the door with a broom.

Tim said: "It made me jump. I went to pick up one of the things that were chewed up and it was an inch from my hand. We expected it to be a rat, or a dog.

"When I came in I started picking everything up and Andy came at 11.50am and that's when we realised the fox was there. It was hiding under a bench and watching us.

Tim suspects the fox broke in through the chimney because of the cluster of black soot and strange prints around the fireplace.

He also found the curtains had been chewed and what appeared to be animal droppings.

The incident came just two-and-a- half weeks after the Beehive's official reopening following a refurbishment.

Andy added: "We found a bit of damage when we came in and found the culprit under the bench.

"We think he came through the chimney. There is a lot of soot around it and footprints.

"The damage was nothing major, just a few little things. We had a refit for about six weeks and we reopened two and half weeks ago."

Tim added: "He seemed quite happy in the pub. It didn't want to leave but we got him out."