A POPULAR and historic Isle of Wight attraction was broken into, with damage caused by intruders.

The Longshoreman's Museum, on Ventnor Esplanade, was targeted sometime overnight, between the evening of Tuesday (October 22) and the early hours of Wednesday.

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Criminal damage was caused, including some minor damage to some of the museum's artefacts.

(Image: Isle of Wight County Press) Only last year, the seafront attraction, once the Blake's family home, was given a revamp.

Police say they are investigating a report of a burglary, with entry forced to the building and damage caused to cabinets and other property, with cash stolen from the till.

A spokesperson for the attraction, owned by the Blake family, said, in a post on Facebook yesterday (Wednesday): "We are closed today due to being broken into last night.

"If anyone has any information please let us know. We do have CCTV images, so hopefully we will catch the suspects.

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"Luckily, there isn’t too much damage to the museum artefacts. We just have lots of cleaning up to do (after the police have been)."

The owners hoped to reopen the museum gift shop today, but predicted the museum itself would be delayed a little longer. 

Police ask that anyone with information should call 101, quoting the crime reference 44240461391.

Alternatively, you can submit information on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website.