A NIGHT porter at a Grappenhall hotel said he feared for his life when burglars forced a pillowcase over his head and marched him blindfolded to the safe.

The dad-of-three, who does not want to be named, was working at the Fir Grove Hotel, on Knutsford Old Road, on Tuesday, April 14, when two masked men broke into the three-star hotel.

The 33-year-old maintenance manager, who was covering the night shift, said he was in the lounge at 4am when he heard a noise coming from the corridor of a block of bedrooms he knew were unoccupied.

He said: “As I walked to the corner I could see a shadow on the wall and my heart started racing. I hoped it was a guest that had gone the wrong way so I called out but two men wearing balaclavas burst out.

“I froze. I couldn’t believe it. One of them punched me in the stomach and as I was doubled over they put a pillow case over my head.

“I said ‘please don’t hurt me, I’ve got kids’ and they calmly replied ‘do as you are told and you won’t get hurt’.”

He added: “One of them had me by the scruff of the neck and I could hear the other one ransacking the desk before he bound my hands with Sellotape.

“All I could think about was seeing my wife and kids again.

“But they just tied my hands to the post with more Sellotape and a while later I heard them running across the car park.

“I have worked here for almost five years and never known anything like it.”

The manager broke free to call the police and is urging anyone with information to come forward.

He added: “It wasn’t a brutal attack and to look at me I’m still the same person but it’s knocked me off my feet.

“I have terrible nightmares and little things like putting petrol in my car have been difficult because I’m uncomfortable with people behind me.

“If anyone else is ever put in that situation just do what they say – it’s not worth risking your life.”

The men are described as white and around 5ft 10in to 6ft. One spoke with a Mancunian accent, was of stocky build and wore a black jacket with an Adidas logo. The other was medium build and wore a dark jacket.

Anyone with information should call DC Pam Hopkins on 0845 458000 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.