CROWBAR wielding thugs are being hunted by police after carrying out a terrifying armed robbery at a Royal British Legion club.

Three masked men dressed in dark clothing and armed with the weapons burst into the club - threatening a pensioner who was inside the premises alone.

Police say the man hurt his head as he was pushed against a wall by the gang who were ordering him to open the safe.

They then helped themselves to what police described as "a significant" amount of money - thought to be at least £1,000.

The violent daylight robbery happened yesterday morning and detectives are hoping the trio, who escaped on foot from the Sholing Road club, will have been spotted by members of the public.

Officers spent yesterday carrying out house to house inquiries and delivering leaflets about the robbery to local homes.

CCTV cameras along the road and surrounding area were also being checked in the hope they have captured the robbers.

The victim, who is 67 years old, was said to have been left extremely shaken by his ordeal. He is not said to have suffered any injury that required hospital treatment.

The three burglars struck just before 10am - two of them carrying crow bars as they got inside the club which was last night back open for business.

Archie Parsons, Southampton secretary of the Royal British Legion said: “It’s quite shocking really.

“I know quite often at this time of year you seem to get this kind of thing happening on licensed premises.

“I obviously feel very sorry for the man, a lot of Legion clubs are frequented by old people and former servicemen and it’s a shame they chose to target a vulnerable person.

“It’s very sad that they have to target organisations like the Legion, but it shouldn’t happen regardless of whether it’s an organisation or not.

“I sincerely hope the police act quickly to bring the culprits to justice.”

Leanne Terry, barmaid at the club, said she had been told that the man had been in this morning and was in the office when three people had come in in balaclavas and asked where the money was.

"He said 'come on lads stop mucking around' - he thought they were mucking around.

"They got hold of him and whacked his head against something.

"They said 'where's the key to the safe?'

"He's an old man and he's obviously going to be scared and do what they say.

"They took quite a lot of money."

She said the money taken included a Christmas fund that had been set aside to pay bands to perform at the club in the festive period.

"It's a family orientated place, people bring their kids in here," she added.

"There's no trouble here, you don't get trouble.

"I was quite shocked."

She said the club would be putting security lights outside but she was worried about locking up.

One member in his 30s, who did not want to be named, said: "You shouldn't do that in general but for a bloke trying to keep the place open for the local community you don't do that to him.

"If it weren't for him this place would've gone a long time ago.

"It's disgusting that people do that."

He said he was surprised this had happened as there had not been problems in the past.

Detectives from Southampton CID are leading the investigation and are appealing for local residents who may be able to help them track down those responsible.

They particularly want to hear from anyone who may have private CCTV cameras on their properties.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "This is a despicable crime which happened in broad daylight. This was a particularly brazen crime that has understandably left the victim very shocked.

"We would urge anyone who may have seen people acting suspiciously in the area, or who thinks they have seen those responsible as they arrived or left the Royal British Legion club to come forward.

"We particularly want to hear from anyone who has CCTV cameras looking out from their properties who may have captured those responsible on camera."

Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Constable Andy Spooner at Southampton CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 101.