A Shropshire landlord today told of the terrifying moment he tackled a masked raider in his pub who was armed with a hammer and a screwdriver.

The licensee, who does not want to be named, grabbed the raider and attempted to pull off his balaclava.

The landlord of The Crown in Albrighton said he discovered the robber stuck half way through an office window at about 3.20am on Saturday.

The landlord, who tackled the man with the help of his 17-year-old son, said: “The alarms went off and I thought they had just tripped but I came down and saw a man with a ski mask on trying to get back out of the window.

“I just grabbed him and tried to pull him back in.

“My son came in and then the burglar hit me over the head with a mallet-style hammer. I said ‘Let’s have a look at you then’ and I pulled his ski-mask off.

“I had the balaclava in my hand and then he hit me with the mallet on my head and I had the screwdriver in my arm.”

The landlord said he could not believe the actions of the raider and three masked men waiting underneath the window.

“He wasn’t in any rush. When he jumped down he didn’t have his ski mask on and he picked up a chair and smashed the window,” he said.

“They were all dressed the same and just walked off brash as anything.”

The burglars left empty-handed and made off tow- ards Wolverhampton. Police believe a get-away vehicle may have been left near-by.

Detective Constable Lee Holehouse, of Bridgnorth CID, said: “This was a frightening incident for the people in the premises.”