Staff at a working men's club today told how a gang of armed robbers assaulted them and made threats to kill in a terrifying raid.

The masked men escaped with cash after breaking into Millsbridge Working Men's Club in Liversedge, wielding crowbars and knives.

Now the club's secretary Maurice Sturgeon has appealed for the public's help to catch the gang before "... they kill someone''.

The robbers broke into the club at around 1am on Easter Monday and demanded staff hand over cash from the till.

The 61-year-old club stewardess told them she did not have keys to the till so the men assaulted her, leaving her with bruising. Mr Sturgeon said that when her husband - who works as a steward - attempted to get out and raise the alarm, he was dragged back into the club one of the raiders who stood over him and threatened to kill him with a hammer.

The gang then forced open the till and removed a "substantial" amount of cash before driving off south along Huddersfield Road in an estate car.

Police say the vehicle was either a Volkswagen Passat or an Audi. Staff believe there were three of four men involved in the attack.

Mr Sturgeon said: "I would appeal for the public's help because these people need to be caught - if anyone tries to resist them they will end up getting killed.

"When the stewardess said she had not got the keys she was slapped around, and when one of my staff had a go at one of them with a snooker rest they threatened him with a knife.

"The steward tried to get to a window and smash it but they dragged him back in and stood over him and threatened to kill with a hammer."

The steward and stewardess were too distressed to talk about their ordeal to the Telegraph & Argus and were off work yesterday.

Mr Sturgeon said he was planning to install shutters. Detective Inspector John Morgan of Dewsbury CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a particularly nasty incident which left the victims distressed."

Anyone who witnessed the attack should call police on (01924) 431059 or Crimestoppers, which is free and confidential, on 0800 555 111.