Raid terror at snooker hall

Frightened staff at a Telford snooker hall locked themselves in a store room after masked robbers pounced on them in a terrifying night-time raid.

The three balaclava-clad men burst into Minnesota Fats in Oakengates just after closing time last night ordering two workers to open the safe if they "didn't want to get hurt".

One worker was even dragged off by one of the raiders after opening the safe, detectives said today. The three men then fled with thousands of pounds in cash.

Detective Sergeant Andy Garrett, of Telford CID, said: "At just after 11pm, as two male members of staff started to lock up the premises, one of them became aware of a figure in the foyer at the club.

"He looked through a small window in an internal door and saw three men on the other side of the door wearing balaclavas."

He added: "The men saw him looking through the window and then pushed the door open to enter the premises.

"The two members of staff quickly managed to run upstairs and lock themselves in a store room but feeling threatened they opened the door.

"The men told the staff member and his colleague to open the safe and stated that if they did as they were told 'they wouldn't get hurt'."

DS Garrett added that once the safe was opened, one of the masked men dragged one staff member away, while the other robbers emptied it.

The three men then took mobile phones off the workers and ran downstairs before then making their escape.

DS Garrett said: "This was a frightening incident for the two members of staff involved but thankfully they were not hurt during the robbery.

"However, a significant sum of money - believed to be a four figure sum - was stolen from the safe.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the three offenders in the area around Minnesota Fats', or anyone who believes they may know who is responsible for this robbery."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police officers in CID in Telford on 0300 333 3000.

By Wayne Beese