A LANDLORD today relived the nightmare of being tied up and threatened with a metal bar in a dawn raid on his pub.

A substantial amount of cash was also taken from the Boat Yard Inn, Bolton Road, Hoghton, by two robbers at 5.30am yesterday.

The men intimidated tenant Austin Ball into giving them a key for the safe which contained the previous night's takings.

Mr Ball had locked up the building at midnight after a karaoke competition and gone upstairs to bed.

Five hours later he was woken when his bedroom light was switched on. He saw two hooded men standing at the foot of his bed, one holding a screw driver and the other a metal bar.

They threatened him with the weapons and told him he would not be harmed if they got what they wanted.

Mr Ball gave them a key for his safe. Then they tied his feet and hands together and put him in his office.

Meanwhile the robbers had fled after taking what police described as a 'substantial' amount of cash.

Mr Ball, said: "I woke up and two hooded figures above me, one with a steel rod and the other with a screwdriver. My dog jumped on the bed and was barking. It seems like nightmare, it doesn't seem real at all.

"They said if I did as I was told they wouldn't hurt me.

"hey got the keys and went to the safe.

"They tied my hands and feet up and put me in the office. I freed myself in five minutes but I waited for them to go before calling the police.

"I'm just glad to be okay."

Police officers were only able to obtain a limited description of the men from the Mr Ball and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

The men, described as six feet tall, spoke with Liverpudlian accents -- one with a speech impediment.

The number for Wheelton CID is 01257 426104.