MASKED men brandishing a meat cleaver threatened to cut off the fingers of a hotel staff member in a terrifying late night armed raid.

Two men, wearing makeshift balaclavas, escaped with six bags of cash from The Old Hall Hotel in Timperley after threatening the manager and two young members of staff.

One member of staff, a man in his 20s, was left shaken after one of the men threatened to cut off his fingers.

The robbery happened at 11.50pm on Monday, May 27.

The offenders, who were also carrying a baseball bat, fled with six bags containing a quantity of cash from the hotel in Stockport Road in Trafford.

Police have now launched an appeal for witnesses and information.

They escaped on pedal bikes, one of which was described as being red and white with lights on the front.

One of the men is described as being white, in his late 20s, approximately 6 ft 1 inches tall. He was wearing a black cotton hooded top with a zip at the front, a black balaclava and gloves at the time of the incident.

The second man is also described as being white. He is in his late 30s and is believed to have scars across his nose and around his eyes. He had fair hair and was wearing a blue hooded top, a homemade style balaclava made from shiny black material and black gloves.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Anyone who has any information about the robbery should call police on 0161 856 7842 quoting incident number 2525 of 27/05/19.

Details can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."