CCTV footage shows armed robbers threaten pub staff with machete - then pet hostage's dog

Everyone in the Strawberry Duck pub was tied up during terrifying robbery

One of the robbers broke off to pet his hostage's dog at the Strawberry Duck pub in Manchester (GMP)

This footage shows the moment two masked armed robbers burst into a Manchester pub and threatened staff with a machete and pool cue.

The men locked everyone inside the Strawberry Duck, in Clayton, on 7 February and terrorised customers and bar staff until they were certain they had all their cash.

One woman was forced to open the tills by a robber wearing a balaclava and hood, while the other was led away in search of more money by his accomplice.

The robbers led the remaining customers and staff into the pub’s cabaret room and restrained them using cable ties as the machete-wielding offender went in search of more cash.

In a bizarre moment, a dog wandered into the room where his master was being held captive and seemingly unaware of the tension, trotted up to the robber armed with a pool cue with its tail wagging.

He briefly dropped his guard to give the pet an affectionate stroke and scratch it behind the ears before jumping back to attention.

The robbers were armed with a machete and pool cue at the Strawberry Duck pub in Manchester (GMP)

After 15 minutes of terror, the two robbers left the pub with a holdall of cash and ran off down the canal towards Manchester city centre.

Police have released CCTV footage of the robbery in the hope of identifying the offenders four weeks after the assault.

Detective Constable Alexander Day, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: “This is still very much an active investigation and I would like to reassure anyone who may have been concerned by the events of that day that we are committed to finding the offenders.

They forced staff to open the tills at the Strawberry Duck pub in Manchester (GMP)

“I would also like to pay tribute to the pub’s owners and staff who managed to stay calm and reassure the customers who had been caught up in this terrifying situation.

Anybody with information is asked to contact GMP on 0161 856 4019 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.