A BB gunman has carried out around 60 shootings on homes, shops and pubs in Poole.

The pest has targeted windows in Hamworthy, Upton, Broadstone, Parkstone and Bourne Valley over the past 10 days, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Detective Inspector Steve Thorpe, from Poole police, said he is linking the attacks but is unsure if they are related to a similar spate of 11 incidents in Purbeck two weeks ago.

"We have had so many, it looks as if it's somebody driving round at random with a ball-bearing gun," he said. "We have had 50 or 60 in the space of about 10 days.

"We would desperately like some information from anybody who knows anything about it. We don't want it to completely escalate or get out of control.

"If someone's going to fire anything through a window of a licensed premises, there's always a possibility someone might get hurt."

He added that none of the pellets have been found.

The yob is attacking after 6.30pm - sometimes going for busy pubs and takeaways.

The Pottery Hotel, on Ringwood Road, was packed with customers during a darts tournament when the gunman struck, at 8.45pm on Monday of last week.

Licensee Chris Matthews said: "We just heard a crash - at first I thought it was a light bulb - and we turned round. Glass had been showered across people and tables and their drinks.

"Nobody was hurt, but a lot of people brought their beers back and it shook people up a bit.

"The bookies down the road was done as well."

He added that it could have caused more damage if someone had been hit.

"It must have been travelling at some pace," he said. "I think the people who do this are idiots."

David Booth, owner of Running Free sports shop in Bournemouth Road, Parkstone, arrived in the shop on Sunday morning to discover a hole in the window of his new shop.

"I think it's terrible," he said. "It will cost me £400 to replace.

"It's never happened to me before, but I do recall it happening about a year ago to other people.

"We've only just moved onto the main road, there was nothing like this when we were on a side road," he added.

Anyone who has any information about who is carrying out these shootings should contact Poole police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

First published: February 8