A Bridgwater Carnival marquee being used to raise money for military heroes was damaged when a man allegedly jumped on it to escape from police.

Bridgwater Carnival Committee is supporting Help for Heroes at this year’s procession and has set up a tent in Barclay Street to help the charity.

Doug Robson, committee life member, said: “This tent has been lent to us and we’ve been shown good community spirit. We are trying to do something different and want to raise money for Help for Heroes, to give something back to the boys. Then this man just makes life difficult for the organisers.

“I hear the man spent the night in the cell and was very apologetic when he woke up and they let him go home.”

Mr Robson’s wife, fellow committee member Pam Robson, said: “Some people drink too much and don’t care about the consequences. Where’s the respect? It’s laughable that he just got away with it.”

A police spokesman said: “An officer was on patrol when he observed a man jump from the wall onto the marquee.”

A 44-year-old man from Shropshire was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage shortly after midnight on Friday and issued with a fixed penalty.