POLICE in Prestwich are appealing for help in identifying the burglars who attacked a pub landlord, as he tried to restrain one of them, when they broke into his pub on Bury New Road last month.

At around midnight,on Thursday, November 27, the 32-year-old landlord locked up the Red Lion hotel for the night and went upstairs with his 41-year-old partner.

During the early hours of the Friday, they were woken by the intruder alarm and as he went downstairs and he heard the sound of breaking glass, she called the police.

On the ground floor he found a man leaning through the broken window trying to unlock the rear door.

The 32-year-old grabbed the man, who hit out at him with what appeared to be a rounders bat, before a second man emerged from outside.

As the second man struck out, the landlord tried to protect his head, so the blow caught and broke his wrist.

As the two men fled the landlord bolted the doors until the police arrived.

The first offender is described as white, in his late teens to early 20s, 5'8 to 5'9 and of slim build. He had a small goatee beard and very short hair. He was wearing a black hooded coat, dark tracksuit trousers and Nike trainers.

The landlord has managed to produce an e-fit of the man who broke his wrist; he is described as being of mixed race, in his late teens to early 20s, 5'7 to 5'8 of slim build, with pockmarked cheeks.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the CID in Bury on 0161 856

8150 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.