AN EMPTY cash machine was dragged out of a pub with a chain during a robbery.

Two raiders burst into The Jolly Crofter pub in Chorley Old Road, Horwich, where one of the men threatened staff with a crowbar.

A second man then put a chain around the cash machine and dragged it outside to a waiting vehicle.

The robbers are believed to have waited until the last customer left the pub, which is run by Alan Jones — dad of McFly’s Danny Jones and The Voice star, Vicky Jones — before committing the robbery.

Mr Jones and Cameron Chippendale, the assistant manager, were in the bar area when the robbers burst in at 11.50pm on Wednesday.

Staff were locking up and had switched off the cash machine.

Sharon Jones, landlady at the pub, said: “I was upstairs and I heard a noise — it was the men grappling with the ATM machine. They were ripping it out of the floor as it was bolted down.

“One had what we think was a crowbar, and Alan just told them to crack on with it, and he and Cameron went into the cellar.”

Mrs Jones ran back upstairs when she realised a robbery was taking place and phoned police.

She said: “They were only about five minutes. They knew exactly what they were doing. They have just caused damage to the floor where the machine was ripped out together with the electrics.

“We are still quite shaken from the whole thing.”

The couple took over the pub earlier this year.

Mr Jones said: “I was terrified to a certain extent as some people think your life isn’t worth £50. I was worried as to where my wife was. I moved to one side and let them get on with it. There was no words from the men, just threats with gestures.”

The getaway car is believed to be a hatchback.

Det Sgt Richard Barrett, from Bolton police, said: “We are urging anyone who was in the area and saw two men acting suspiciously to get in touch with police.”

The first man was white, about 5ft 10in tall, slim and was wearing a grey hooded top and dark bottoms.

The second man was also believed to be white, about 6ft tall, medium build and was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 8565761 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.