BRAVE bar manager Penny Whitmore has told the Congleton Guardian about the night she was beaten black and blue by armed robbers who threatened her with guns and knives.

Biddulph resident Mrs Whitmore was helping Alan Campbell to lock up the bar at Congleton Cricket Club in April when masked raiders burst through the door.

As the group hit Mr Campbell over the head, they pointed a gun at Mrs Whitmore and raided the club's tills.

They dragged the pair to the club's store room, where they repeatedly punched and kicked Mrs Whitmore in the face, before taking more cash from a safe and fund-raising tins.

The gang attempted to lock the store room door with the pair inside, before fleeing with around £5,000.

Mrs Whitmore, who suffered a fractured left eye socket in the incident, spoke about her ordeal after the second of two men pleaded guilty to armed robbery last week.

Paul Otis Turner, 31, of Openshaw, Manchester, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm at Chester Crown Court.

He will be sentenced this month with Matthew Dodds, 26, of Moston, Greater Manchester, who had earlier also admitted robbery and possession of a firearm.

Recalling the night of her ordeal, Mrs Whitmore said: "I was begging them not to lock us in the store room because I didn't think we would get out alive.

"It was a terrifying experience for us, and when they put us in the store room, I really thought we were going to be killed because there was so much blood around.

"The left side of my face is still numb, and my left eye feels like it has needles stuck in it every morning when I wake up."

The attack took place on Monday, April 5, after a busy weekend of activities.

Mr Campbell, 45, from Congleton, was struck on the back of the head by a gun as the gang entered the premises.

He later had his wrist slashed by a knife as he tried to lift Mrs Whitmore off the floor.

The pair were able to escape and inform the police after the gang was unable to lock the store room door.

Mr Campbell said: "I got caught trying to get Penny off the floor because they were hitting her.

"It was a terrifying experience because the gang was so violent and aggressive."