A POLICE investigation is under way after burglars targeted one of Frodsham’s best known hotels and attempted to set it alight.
Thieves broke into Heathercliffe Country Hotel on Manley Road, which had been standing empty at the time having just undergone extensive refurbishment, at about 4.50pm on Monday.
New owners were just weeks away from reopening the hotel which has been vacant for months, and the incident means the reopening will have to be postponed further.
Among the items taken in the raid include eight television sets, a till worth about £2,000, a cash float amounting to about £300 and two signed images of Benny Hill and Second World War veteran-turned-actor Audie Smith.
Three small fires were set while the thieves were on the premises, but all extinguished themselves.
Cheshire Constabulary has launched an investigation into the incident, which they are treating as suspicious.
PC Scott Graves, leading the investigation, said he was waiting for results from crime scene investigators.
He said: “We are particularly keen to appeal for any information about the two signed pictures.
“These are two particularly unique items and I would ask anyone who is offered them or knows of their whereabouts, to let us know as soon as possible.”
He added: “A van was spotted by a neighbour heading up the long path toward the hotel and tyre marks were left outside the front entrance but we know that the car park is often used by people driving up there to sit in the car park as the hotel is quite out of the way.”
