Police are today hunting two masked robbers who struck at a Bradford city centre cafe yesterday.

A 19-year-old shop assistant was hit with a baseball bat when pair struck at Costa Coffee in Forster Square.

The teenager and his colleague, another 19-year-old man, were forced to lie on the floor.

Detective Inspector Gerry O’Shea, of Bradford South CID, said the two robbers, who were wearing Balaclava helmets, snatched cash from the office amounting to a few hundred pounds, mostly in coins.

“The two 19-year-olds were in the process of closing when the men walked in at 6.20pm,” he said. “One was holding a baseball bat.

“He attacked one of the young men, hitting him with the bat on the legs, and forced both of them to lay down on the floor and threatened them.”

The raiders then walked out the way they came in and made off in what was believed to be a stolen a red Renault Laguna with false number plates, NV52 FLG, taken from a legitimate car.

“The Renault was found a few minutes after the robbery, burnt out in Valley Road, Bradford,” said Det Insp O’Shea.

“We are appealing to anyone who might have seen the red Renault at the time of the robbery or shortly afterwards.”

Call Detective Constable Joe Barr of Bradford South police on 0845 6060606.