THIEVES broke into a brewery in Lyme Regis and stole bottles of beer.
The owners of Lyme Regis Brewery on Mill Lane have said they are "saddened" after a group of young people "smashed their front doors" and stole beer.
They thanked neighbours and a passerby who tried to help as they witnessed the break-in but were reportedly attacked "verbally and physically" by the thieves.
The brewery door and windows had to be replaced due to the damage caused.
In a social media post, the owners of the business said: "Last night a group of teenagers smashed our front doors and stole some beer.
"We want to thank our kind neighbours who were straight out to help and unfortunately were verbally and physically attacked by the group.
"A kind passerby also jumped in to help. Even when the adults arrived they continued to try to gain entry and attack them.
"The police were called and eventually rounded them up, to a barrage of verbal abuse.
"They even had the audacity to throw pebbles at the police and our neighbours who were trying to clean up and protect the taproom.
"We’re obviously really saddened by this and again want to thank our neighbours and staff.
"We’re open as usual, despite the boarded window. Thanks, everyone for the kind messages so far."
Dan Smith, co-owner of Lyme Regis Brewery, said: "A dozen or so bottles of beers were taken but the main thing was the inconvenience of replacing the door and the window.
"It is never nice.
"Luckily in Lyme, we don't get too much trouble.
"It is the first incident we have had in the five or six years we have been here.
"It is still upsetting and frustrating.
"We are very grateful to our neighbours for being alert and acting.
"Thankfully no one was hurt, we have a good community who look out for each other.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 10.40pm on Sunday, August 11, of a burglary at Lyme Regis Brewery in Mill Lane.
"It is reported that bottles of alcohol were stolen during the incident.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened."
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