ROBBERS have forced a couple out of a Huddersfield pub - just a week after they took over.

A gang armed with a machete robbed The Woolpack on Deighton Road, Deighton, on Monday night.

Now the new manager and manageress have decided to quit just a week after starting their new jobs.

Couple Brian Midgley and his wife, Lynne, are not prepared to stay after the terrifying experience.

Brian, 48, said: "The robbers have forced us out of the pub.

"It's a shame and it's ruined all our plans. The Woolpack is a good community pub and we were really enjoying it.

"The regulars are great and it's home to a football team and pool and domino teams, but this robbery has forced us out."

The couple have run other pubs including The Anchor in Brighouse - which is now known as The Bridge - and The Sportsman in the centre of Halifax.

The Woolpack has just had a major refurbishment which was finished three weeks ago.

The robbers burst in at 10.20pm on Monday when Brian was working behind the bar and Anne was chatting to their daughter, 26-year-old Amelia, and her husband, Darren Hunneybell.

About 10 customers were also in the pub.

Brian said: "The gang all seemed to come through the door together.

"At first I thought it was a joke, until one picked up a stool and another leaped over the bar."

They forced him to open a safe - but appeared disappointed at the amount in there.

"They asked where the notes were," said Brian. "But we'd been to the bank that day."

The thieves then stole £360 charity money raised from a fun day at the pub on Sunday.

A robber armed with a machete stood by the door throughout the raid.

At one point, Amelia fled into the disabled toilet to escape the gang and locked the door behind her.

Brian added: "The whole robbery only took about a minute - but it was enough.

"We're leaving."

All the gang wore balaclavas or ski masks and dark clothes and at least two of them were African- Caribbeans.

One of them was about 5ft 4in tall and stocky.

Another was slightly taller and of athletic build.

At least two more were about 6ft tall and slim.

Anyone with information should contact the robbery team at Huddersfield CID on 01484 436582.

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