The owner of a Lampeter pub claims police missed ‘a golden opportunity’ to catch a burglar red-handed after he rang 999 to report an intruder in the early hours of Friday.

Nick Wright, who runs the Black Lion Hotel in High Street, claims it took officers 37 minutes to get to the scene after CCTV and alarms indicated a burglar had broken into the premises early on Friday.

The frustrated landlord – who also claims he was advised not to enter the building himself – said that by the time police finally turned up the burglar had made his getaway.

“I just feel so frustrated,” Mr Wright told the Cambrian News.

“If I’d known how long it was going to take police to arrive I’d have taken my chances and gone in there myself. Yet when I reported the ongoing burglary at 3.36am I was told that under no circumstances was I to enter the building.

“I was actually told to remain at my home in Bridge Street, but decided instead to get up to the Black and go round the back because I felt that was the most likely escape route.

“I ended up waiting there for 25 minutes – in total it took police 37 minutes to respond to that call which I feel is totally unacceptable.

“But I don’t suppose I should be so surprised as the patrol car had come from Cardigan, I believe."

Police did not respond with a comment.

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