A PUB manager has spoken of his terrifying ordeal at the hands of two masked men who raided the Salt Cellar pub, on Holmes Chapel Road,last Saturday night.

Deputy manager, 26-year-old Brandon Rance, was cashing up in the office above the bar just after 11pm.

As he finished two men burst in, one of them brandishing a crow-bar. They forced Mr Rance to the floor and tied him up before stealing money from the safe. The amount stolen has not been revealed.

Mr Rance was then frog-marched to a flat adjoining the office and shut in the bathroom.

"It all happened so fast that I did not realise what was going on," said Mr Rance.

"At the time I just stayed quiet and tried to keep calm. It was only afterwards that it hit me."

Mr Rance managed to free himself and raise the alarm. Amazingly, pub-goers and staff downstairs had been oblivious to the whole episode.

Mr Rance added: "The men knew what they were doing and seemed very professional. They had broken in through the flat upstairs and prepared the room to put me in."

Both men are described as white males in their mid-twenties. The first man brandishing the crow-bar was 5ft 7in to 5ft 9in, slim built with a West Midlands accent.

He was wearing a baseball cap, a scarf or bandana covering the lower half of his face, a grey bomber jacket, blue jeans and trainers.

The second man was slightly taller, slim build with a mild Liverpool accent. He was wearing a black balaclava, scruffy blue jeans and trainers.

Detective Constable Karen Snasdell said: "We would appeal urgently for any witnesses or anyone with any information to contact us immediately."

Anyone who can help should ring DC Snasdell at Northwich CID on 01606 48000 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.