A PUB owner who spent £2,500 on a floral display has condemned the vandals who destroyed it.

John Rushworth, landlord at the Derwent Arms in Norton, found most of the display ruined on Tuesday morning.

"I was absolutely disgusted when I saw it, it was a complete mess. They have pulled up loads of flowers at the front of the pub and at the back on the car park," he said.

"The people who have done this are complete cowards because they have done it in the dead of night when there was no one around.

"It's sickening because we're trying to make an effort to spruce up the pub and people have commented on how nice is looks."

The damage is estimated to run into hundreds of pounds, but it was not the first time the pub had been targeted by vandals.

A spokesman from Malton police said they were investigating. "This sort of behaviour is not acceptable and we would appeal for witnesses to come forward," he said