A LANDLADY has described how she barricaded herself in a bedroom with her son after waking to find robbers raiding her pub.

Elaine Singleton, owner of the Eagle and Child pub in Ramsbottom, says her family has been left traumatised following the attack.

The mother-of-three got up to investigate a noise at around 4.50am when she was faced with a masked robber wielding a chair.

She screamed with terror and woke her 16-year-old son, Sam, who came to see what had happ-ened.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Singleton said: “My first thought was that Sam was going to get hurt.

"I grabbed him and locked us both in the bedroom and listened to them ransack my house and pub.”

The robbers had climbed onto the smoking shelter roof, before breaking in through a window.

Police arrived within five minutes but the robbers, thought to be two males, got away with large amounts of cash and a selection of precious jewellery.

Mrs Singleton, who used to run the Royal Oak pub, added: “I’ve not slept since and Sam had to take a week off school.

"He’ll be traumatised about this forever.”

Police are now appealing to anyone with information about the robbery, on Friday, January 23, to come forward.

PC Karen Flint, of Bury Commercial Robbery Unit, said: “This was a frightening experience for the landlady and her son.

“She was threatened with the nearest thing they could use as a weapon and had to hide away while he rifled through the rest of her belongings.

“If anyone saw somebody on the roof of the pub’s smoking shelter that night I would urge them to come forward.”

They are also asking for information from pawn shops and jewellers who have recently been offered any unusual jewellery.

The distinctive jewellery includes a gold charm bracelet with ten charms, one of which is a manatee.

Another piece stolen was a 9ct gold butterfly brooch, 2ins in diameter with blue enamel.

One of the robbers is described as around 5ft 8in, and of medium build.

He was wearing a slate grey hooded jumper and had a black scarf, or balaclava, covering his face.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bury police on 0161 856 0027, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.