A LANDLADY has spoken of her shock when three masked men burst into her Burnley pub armed with a hammer and demanded money.

Sue Thompson, the landlady of the Rose and Crown, was off duty in the Manchester Road pub, when her son came running downstairs and told her three armed men had entered their home.

The 53-year-old Sue, who had been having a quiet drink with friends, said: “Just before closing up time on Saturday, my son Brian came running into the pub saying three burglars had got into the flat. “He said he had been watching TV when the men, who were armed with a hammer, came in the kitchen door I had left open for my dalmation Toby.

“He explained we had no money on the premises and that the pub was still open and they ran off.

“He was very pale and shaken.

“Now it has had time to sink in I can’t helping thinking just how lucky we were something more serious didn’t happen.”

The landlady took over the pub three months ago, after running The Derby, in Gannow, for six years with her 35-year-old son Brian Thompson.

Miss Thompson said: “We still had around 30 customers in the pub when it happened.

“Me, Brian and one of our regulars armed with a pool cue went upstairs to make sure no-one was still in the flat.

“When we came back down-stairs, someone said a car had suspiciously pulled up at the side of the pub.

“The police then arrived and I went to show them where I think the burglars got in.”

Detectives in Burnley are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

DC Kim De Curtis, from Pennine CID, said: “I am keen to speak to any customers drinking in the pub who on leaving may have seen the men. Thankfully crimes of this nature are rare and with the public’s help we can continue to keep it that way.”

The men are all described as being in their late 20s to early 30s and were wearing hooded tops with the hoods up and scarves covering their faces.

Anybody with any information about the incident at the pub can all police on the number 01282 472143.