ARMED robbers escaped with around £4,000 in cash after a raid on a Bury club.

Now staff and customers at Elton Liberal Club believe the masked team of robbers had been watching the club for several weeks before carrying out Sunday afternoon's (Aug 11) terrifying raid.

Relief steward Mr Phil Jackson (77) had just watched the last member of staff leave in a taxi at 4.50pm and was activating the alarm system when three masked men burst in through the entrance door of the New George Street club.

A handgun was pushed against Mr Jackson's face and he was frogmarched by two of the gang to the safe room. His wife, Doreen, who had come to collect her husband, was held at gunpoint in the bar area.

The armed trio stole the weekend's takings before leaving in what is believed to have been a silver or gold coloured saloon car.

Mr Jackson told the Bury Times: "As you can imagine, my wife was hysterical. We have both seen guns before but it is a different matter when they are pointed in your face. They may have been replicas, but we weren't going to take any chances.

"It was very organised. As soon as the last member of staff left in a taxi the men burst into the club. They must have been watching the place beforehand because the club is not something you just stumble across."

Mrs Jackson (63) is still recovering from the ordeal and is said to be in a distressed state.

The evening before the raid, a number of customers had discussed a sudden increase in the number of strangers visiting the club.

Elton Liberal Club member John Goddard said: "In the past few weeks there has been a lot of strangers, men and women, calling in for a drink. A few of us were only talking about it on Saturday night.

"It would have been very easy to watch how the place is run and what happens at closing time. Someone has been watching the place very closely."

The offenders are described as white males who were all wearing ski-masks, dark clothing and gloves. Anyone who witnessed the robbery, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time, is asked to contact CID on 856 8150 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.