ROBBERS armed with a shotgun and an 18 inch machete targeted a pub in a "frightening ordeal", police said.

Three men raided the Dukes Gate pub in Cleggs Lane, Little Hulton, demanding cash and jewellery from drinkers in the pub.

A man carrying a shotgun told one of his accomplices to injure one of their victims after he refused to hand anything over to them.

But when the victim said he recognised the accomplice's voice, they panicked.

This allowed one of the drinkers in the pub to set off a panic alarm, and the men then ran away from the pub on Cleggs Lane in the direction of Farnworth.

Now police are appealing for information in finding the three men, following the incident at 11.45pm on Tuesday night.

The man who carried a shotgun is described as a white, aged in his mid 20s, approximately 5ft 7in and of skinny build.

He was wearing two or three black hooded tops with his hood up, green ‘Northface’ jogging bottoms and a black scarf covering his face.

The man who wielded a machete is described as a white in his mid 20s, approximately 5ft 7in, of skinny build, who spoke with a Salford accent.

He was wearing a black hooded top with his hood up and charcoal grey jogging bottoms, possibly Nike branded.

The machete was approximately 18in long with a black coloured blade.

The third man is described as a white, approximately 5ft 5in, of skinny build, with a beard.

Detective Constable Horace Bell, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “The people who were in the pub at the time should have been enjoying a drink but instead they have been subjected to a frightening ordeal.

“Had it not been for the intervention of one of the intended victims then this incident may have been much worse.”

Anybody with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident number 2337 of 12/01/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.