A PUB landlady is "utterly devastated" after a break-in causing "thousands" of pounds worth of damage and stealing hundreds of pounds of cash from charity boxes and tips.

Tara Jepson said she has put her "life savings" into the Yacht Tavern.

Taking to social media to vent her frustration she said the break-in, which happened in the early hours of Friday morning is "a huge knock."

As reported Ms Jepson took over the pub in October 2017 and is in the middle of a £50,000 refurb.

But on Friday she was woken by her bar manager who told her the pub had been broken into.

She came downstairs to find three broken windows, a broken cellar door, and the pool table, Juke box and fruit machine all damaged.

And she is still working out the cost of repairs - which also include a ransacked till and CCTV unit.

Money from having to close on the "busiest day of the week" has also been lost.

Speaking to the Echo she said: "I don't know what happened. I'm a really light sleeper but my builders woke up the bar manager and he came in to tell me we had been burgled.

"They've taken a charity box for women's aid with about £300 in it. The charity box for the Jubilee Sailing Trust has gone. That was completely full up.

"The tips off the top shelf have gone.

"The beautiful yacht we had in the window has been smashed.

But taking to social media to vent her anger Ms Jepson said the pub would still be open tonight (Friday) and said: "Our band tonight is going ahead!

"I will not let this bring the Yacht down. Myself my bar manager Glen and our team have worked too hard.

"I am utterly devastated by this, I have put my life savings into The Yacht and am desperately trying to renovate and put life back into her.

"This is a huge knock."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "We received a report regarding a burglary at the Yacht Tavern, Sea Road, between 11.45pm on July 5 and 7.30am on July 6.

"Entry gained and money stolen from a charity box and two bottles of spirits, as well as some cash.  Investigations are ongoing."