TWO students who were captured on CCTV ripping blackboards from the front of a Worcester pub have visited the landlord to apologise and pay for the damage.

As reported on the front page of yesterday’s Worcester News, police were called to two unrelated incidents of criminal damage in St John’s over the weekend caused by partying students.

The first incident happened at The Wheatsheaf Inn, in Henwick Road, St John’s, at 5am on Sunday.

Landlord Guy Beech passed CCTV footage from outside his pub, in Henwick Road, to police.

Mr Beech said the two culprits visited him on Monday night to say sorry and handed over £250 cash to pay for the damage. He added: “The two lads came into the pub and apologised very sincerely to myself, my wife and other members of staff.

“It doesn’t take away the fact that their actions caused criminal damage and put me out quite a bit.

“I think coming face to face with me and paying for the damage will help them learn from their actions. It is an effective form of punishment as they have lost out financially. Other students who have been into the pub since have been disappointed by it all as they don’t want to be tarred with the same brush. They don’t want all the good things the students bring to the city to be spoiled by a small minority.

“I think the university should make students get out and do work in the community if they cause problems for local residents in future.”

In an unrelated incident the following night — at 3.30am on Monday — a student dressed as the Incredible Hulk jumped on the roof of a car parked outside a house in Hylton Road. The sunroof on the Ford Fiesta was smashed and the roof itself was badly dented.

A spokesman for the university said it took such incidents “very, very seriously.” “Disciplinary action could still be taken against these students. We won’t let it drop,” she said.

It is believed the police will take no further action against the pub vandals but they are still appealing for witnesses to the car damage to come forward.

The offender dressed as the Hulk is described as being 6ft tall, of a stocky build, with short brown hair.

Anyone with information should call 0300 333 3000 quoting 36/S/200910.