A club manager yesterday told of his terror as he was beaten and tied up by armed robbers.

Alan Ashley was in such a panic he forgot the keys to Wickford Snooker Club's safe were in his pocket.

Instead he told the robbers they were in another room - and the raiders attacked him when they discovered otherwise.

Mr Ashley, 52, from Wickford, said: "I was absolutely panicking. There was no way I was trying to be hero - I'd rather be a live coward then a dead hero."

The rest of the staff at the snooker hall, in the High Street's Ladygate Centre, had left for the night when the robbers struck.

Mr Ashley believes the door didn't shut properly behind them and gave the

raiders an ideal opportunity to sneak up the stairs into the club.

He said: "I had just locked up the safe and two men came running round the corner. They sprayed something which the police think was ammonia in my face and pushed me to the floor.

"Then they tied up my hands with cable ties and asked for the keys to the safe."

But when Mr Ashley mistakenly sent them in the wrong direction to find them, they started punching him while holding a handgun to his head.

His hands came loose in the struggle but he tried to remain calm and told the robbers "that's enough".

After finding the keys, the crooks raided the safe and fruit machines, getting away with about £2,500.

Then they locked Mr Ashley in the cellar.

He said: "My arms were still loose and I managed to get to my tool box. I got a chisel and chiselled away the lock in about five minutes. Then I hit the panic button by the car.

Mr Ashley is now recovering with black eyes and bad bruises and admits he is still very "jumpy". He is working closely with the police to try to identify the robbers.

Information to Wickford police on 01268 561312 Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Left battered and bruised - Alan Ashley is recovering after being locked up by armed raiders

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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