Harry Potter vanishes

The young magician was in a computer games machine, along with Mario Kart, which were stolen from a bespoke case at the Star Inn, Normans Bay.

Owner Malcolm Huntly said the theft was discovered when staff went to turn off the power at the end of the evening and found two of the machines missing.

He took over the pub last October and as part of the refurbishment installed six Nintendo game cubes for free use in the children's room.

They proved a popular addition to the pub, often queues formed for youngsters to have a turn.

"We were particularly busy last Wednesday evening, the restaurant did 750 covers," said Malcolm. But with the games in constant use he finds it hard to believe that no-one saw the theft taking place to report it at the time.

"They would have needed screwdrivers to get them out of the case. They must have made two visits, the first to work out how to remove them.

The games machines cost about 90 each but "I'm annoyed more than anything," said Malcolm who has already installed replacements, this time with security screws. However, it means staff are unable to change the games so frequently.

The machines had been in use since last year without any problems apart from the occasional theft of controllers, their wires cut with steak knives.

He says he spent 35,000 last November on equipment for the play park, one of the biggest on the south coast and within a couple of months it had been vandalised.

"It is robust American equipment but the fireman's pole was bent and they often pinched swings." At 250 a swing he says he and his staff have to be more vigilant.

"It is disheartening but I would say 98 per cent of our customers show respect for what we have done."