Police are today hunting three masked robbers who staged an armed attack in a Bradford street.

A 41-year-old man, who witnesses said was carrying a large bag of cash, was attacked with a crowbar and sprayed with an unknown substance during the attack yesterday lunch time.

Two of the attackers wore Hallowe'en masks and the third also had his face covered.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Telegraph & Argus, the victim, who was from Bradford, was repeatedly hit before escaping to the nearby Barclays Bank in Cheapside.

It is thought he had been heading to the bank to hand in his business takings when he was attacked.

Last night, he was in Bradford Royal Infirmary where he was expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. Police were waiting to question him.

Today officers investigating the incident appealed for witnesses. They are keen to trace a red Volvo car, registration G222MUB, which was driven by the robbers. Police say that they do not believe it was a stolen vehicle.

The robbers escaped up Cheapside towards Manningham with a small amount of cash.

One witness, who did not wish to be named, described the events as "like something out of a horror movie".

She said: "I just saw this man on the floor and they were beating him. It was horrific. It was busy with people with children and pushchairs and they were screaming.

"I was really, really scared. The way they were going at him, I thought he must be quite badly hurt."

Another witness described how the car had slowed down beside the man before two of the occupants jumped out and tried to snatch the bag he was carrying.

"The doors just flew open and they leapt on him," he said, "I think something was sprayed on his face and they were using a crowbar."

DI Simon Atkin, of Bradford South police, said they wanted to hear from anyone who had witnessed the incident at 12:15pm whilst many office workers were on their lunch breaks.

The first suspect has been described as an Afro-Caribbean male who was wearing a dark top and hallowe'en mask.

The second man wore a similar mask, a cream pullover sweatshirt and scruffy jeans. The third was a white male who also wore a mask.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Bradford South police on (01274) 376459.