Foxhunters pub workers held at gunpoint in raid

Mar 14 2009 by Sonia Sharma, The Journal

TERRIFIED pub staff were held up at gunpoint in an armed raid. Two masked men burst into the Foxhunters Pub, on Preston North Road, Whitley Bay.

It is believed one man was armed with a small handgun and the other had a large stick.

They stole an amount of cash and then left the pub during the raid at around 11.40pm on Thursday.

Police say the members of staff were shocked but otherwise unhurt. Officers are now appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Yesterday people living nearby told of their horror at a gun being used to threaten staff at their local pub, which is described on website pub-explorers.com as “a friendly, trouble free pub located in a residential area”.

Paul Craig, 50, who lives opposite the pub in Chiltern Road, said: “There was the newsagents robbery at Mills not so long ago and a robbery at the bank, and that’s all within two miles of each other, so it’s not so surprising these days.

“There have been a lot recently but of course it’s still alarming when they use a gun.

“They seem to come all at once, but before the newsagents there had not been a robbery for a while. You just have to trust that the police are on it, and the main thing is that no one was injured.”

A mum-of-five, also from Chiltern Road, who did not wish to be named, said: “I think it is expected these days.

“There are so many handguns available now. I don’t think people can expect not to hear things like this happening. No matter how much you try to control handguns somebody is always going to get round it.”

Residents in nearby Purbeck Close heard nothing of the commotion late last night.