A PUB chef has described his terrifying ordeal after being tied up and threatened by robbers who broke into a busy village pub.

Rob Powell, aged 24, revealed his shock after being woken up by three men who entered the Crown at Martley in the early hours of yesterday morning while he was asleep upstairs.

Although he was not hurt, his hands and feet were bound by the men who forced their way in through a side fire door and demanded the pub's takings.

He said: "I was fast asleep.

"A big bang woke me up and all this noise was happening downstairs.

"I think they were going through all the fruit machines and everything."

Mr Powell said the robbers, who wore dark clothing and had covered their faces, came to his room and tied his hands before demanding he take them to the pub's tills.

He said: "I just did exactly what they told me to do."

The robbers then took him back upstairs and tied his feet. They are then thought to have escaped in a vehicle waiting outside.

Mr Powell added: "It was frightening. I just froze really. I just froze up and did what they told me."

The men, who broke into the pub at around 1.50am, made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from three tills and a filing cabinet along with a 42 inch Panasonic plasma TV worth around £800.

After they left, Mr Powell managed to free his hands and called 999 at about 2am. He also called pub owner Caroline Cassell at 3am.

She said the robbers had not stolen much cash but added: "I'm more concerned about Rob to be honest than anything else.

"He's been here about six months and he's an exceptional second chef and a very nice bloke, a very easy, helpful employee.

"It's not what you expect in an idyllic village area of outstanding natural beauty with a civilised atmosphere.

"We never have any trouble with the drinkers and we don't really expect someone from outside to break in and intimidate someone."

The Berrow Green Road pub was closed for the day while forensic teams carried out searches but was reopened last night.

Police said the three men were white and spoke with Birmingham accents.

Anyone who saw the robbery or was in the area at the time is urged to call thepolice on 08457 444888 quoting reference number 57/S/150408, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.