A GANG armed with samurai swords threatened staff as they held up a Hampshire pub and escaped with thousands of pounds.

Terrified workers ran to safety when three masked men smashed their way into the premises late on Sunday night as they cashed up.

The landlord, who was confronted by one of the men demanding he empty the safe, ended up in hospital with facial injuries.

It is the third armed raid on a pub in the area in the past three months – and detectives are not ruling out the possibility that the same gang are responsible.

Break-in It was around 11.15pm on Sunday when the trio forced their way inside The White Swan in Mansbridge.

While one of the thieves ordered the landlord to hand over cash, three members of staff, who were working at the time, fled to other parts of the pub for cover.

Police are not revealing exactly how much money was stolen during the raid but the Daily Echo understands it runs into thousands of pounds.

Only last week, on Bank Holiday Monday, a gang armed with a handgun burst into the Fox and Hounds pub in Bursledon and stole a substantial amount of cash.

They had got in through the back entrance and had disguised their faces with balaclavas as they demanded the keys for the safe from frightened staff.

The robbery happened around 10.45pm on June 4, while customers were finishing up their drinks, and lasted only a matter of minutes before the gang fled on foot to nearby woods.

Meanwhile, in April this year four masked raiders escaped with £20,000 after a terrifying armed robbery at Southampton’s Banana Wharf restaurant.

Similarly, the gang had forced their way onto the premises at closing time via the kitchens and back door. A female member of staff was about to leave the restaurant between 10.30pm and 11.30pm when she was confronted by the men who were carrying a knife.

The assistant manager was made to empty the safe, being punched and kicked until he handed over the money.

Detective Inspector Dave Nealon said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the Mansbridge area at the time, who may be able to assist us with our enquiries.

“If you were at the pub and had left just before closing time did you see or hear anything? Did you see a vehicle parked in the car park or adjacent roadside? Did you see a vehicle leave the A27 in either direction from the pub at speed?

“Any information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, we want to hear from you.”

Call Bitterne CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.