TWO west Dorset businesses say they were targeted by customers who allegedly left without paying in separate incidents.

Owners of The Ollerod restaurant in Beaminster and The George Inn, Chideock were left furious after customers allegedly left the premises with bills of more than £100 left unpaid.

CCTV at The Ollerod shows a large family - including adults, children and a baby, in the restaurant, sitting down for a meal and then later getting into their car. Staff said they left without paying.

The footage has been shared on social media.

The Echo is not showing the faces due to a pending police investigation and enquiries into the incident.

Dorset Police have been contacted for a comment.

Silvana Bandini, owner of The Ollerod, said: "They came in as a walk-in so we did not have any of their details.

The Ollerod in BeaminsterThe Ollerod in Beaminster (Image: Tom Lawrence)

"They were not rude to staff at all.

"They had a bill of £192, which is not the end of the world, but that is money that should have gone to the business.

"They looked like they they were going to come and pay. The man said his wife was going to finish her cigarette and then she would come and pay.

"They then just jumped into the car and left."

It happened on Thursday August 29.

In Chideock, owners of The George Inn were victims of a separate incident, where staff said a family left without paying a bill of £113 on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.

It is not known if the incidents are connected.

Amy Day, owner of The George Inn in Chideock said: "The customers rung ahead on Monday evening and asked if we had a table.

"They came in and sat right by the bar and had their meal.

"When they finished, the man went to the car and the woman came to the bar.

"She told staff she was taking her kids to the toilet and then needed to get her card from her partner.

"They went to the toilet and left the building.

"The man pulled the car up to the kitchen door, they chucked the kid in the car and sped off before we had a chance to intercept them."

She added: "It is disappointing because it is a hard time for hospitality.

"Everyone is tired after the summer and things like that make you question why you bother.

"It is the nerve and the audacity they had to do it.

"We are a family business and £113 is a lot of money, it is so disrespectful.

"It makes us wonder whether we should take payment before customers eat their food."