MASKED robbers bundled shop staff into a cold store in a terrifying early-hours raid.

The gang threatened workers at Sainsbury’s Salendine Nook supermarket with crowbars after breaking in through a rear door.

And they fled with a huge haul of cash and cigarettes.

Now detectives from the Kirklees robbery team are hunting witnesses to the raid, which happened about 3am yesterday.

They are also looking for a getaway car – possibly an Audi.

The West Yorkshire Police helicopter searched the area after the alarm was raised.

Detectives are also thought to be checking CCTV which monitors the store in the Salendine Shopping Centre.

The gang struck about 3am yesterday and are thought to have broken in through the rear of the store through a fire door.

The rear doors are in a yard which is enclosed by a high steel fence.

The men were all masked and carrying crowbars.

The shop had closed hours earlier but three members of the night staff were inside when the gang struck.

All were threatened by the robbers but none were hurt.

A police spokesman said: “The men broke into the supermarket through a fire door and threatened three members of staff inside.

“The staff were told to go into a chiller where they were told to wait while the group stole cigarettes and cash before fleeing.

“After the suspects fled the staff left the unit, which had not been locked, and contacted the police.”

All of the three men were wearing hooded tops with the hoods pulled down to cover their faces.

Det Sgt Ian Thornes, of the Kirklees Robbery Team, said: “We are investigating this incident today and would like to hear from anyone who saw three masked men behaving suspiciously outside the shopping centre.

“A number of inquiries are ongoing currently to locate these men and I would ask anyone who has information to contact the Kirklees Robbery Team on 101 or CrimeStoppers , anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

The store opened for business as normal yesterday.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We can confirm there was an incident at our Salendine Nook store in the early hours of Monday morning.

“No customers or colleagues were hurt and we are helping police with their inquiries.”