RAIDERS who targeted an Ipswich pub held a knife to the barmaid's throat and threatened to kill her unless she opened the safe, it emerged today.

Neil Puffett

RAIDERS who targeted an Ipswich pub held a knife to the barmaid's throat and threatened to kill her unless she opened the safe, it emerged today.

Police are continuing to hunt the gang which made off with around £5,000 in cash following the terrifying incident at the Inkerman pub in Norwich Road at about 11.15pm Sunday.

Owner Peter Caley branded the robbers as animals and asked for help in catching those responsible.

He said the female member of staff involved has been left traumatised by the raid events.

Mr Caley told how three men pounced on the barmaid after closing time on Sunday evening when she unlocked the bar door to collect some glasses left outside.

He said: “They held a knife to her throat and asked if anybody else was in the pub.

“When she said there was someone upstairs they told her that if she made a noise they would kill her and him as well. “They made her open the safe then tied her up and took the money.

“These were animals. She's very traumatised by the whole thing.

“These are dangerous people that have done this and I would urge anyone with information to contact the police.”

Owners Peter Caley and Christian Ross took over the Inkerman in 2006 and were originally regulars at the pub before deciding to take it over.

The pair employed a landlord and bar staff to look after the revamped public house.

The pub was taped off yesterday as investigators began their work to try to catch the offenders.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hayward at Ipswich Police said: “There were three males who went to the pub with a knife and threatened the female member of staff. It was quite traumatic for her. They made her open the safe and restrained her whilst they made good their escape.

“We are appealing for any witnesses who were in the area of Norwich Road between 11.15pm and 11.30pm who saw anything strange or untoward.

“It was quite a nasty incident. You do not expect to have that sort of thing happen when you close the pub for the night.

“We would like to reassure people that this was a one-off. We will do our upmost to catch these offenders.”

One of the men is described as white, another one is black and the third man is mixed race. They all had their faces partly covered to conceal their identity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk police on 01473 613500.