A landlord has described how he was tied up next his wife during a terrifying knife-point robbery.

Danny Chambers was asleep in bed with wife Tina when three masked men climbed in through the window of their home above the Melville Hotel in Stretford.

The first the couple saw of the thugs was when they awoke to find them stood over their bed – carrying a machete, baseball bat and hammer.

Danny, 43, originally from London, was then dragged to the pub’s safe downstairs, while Tina, 34, was ordered to stay in the bedroom – watched by one of the trio armed with a machete.

Two of the men demanded Danny, who was terrified for his wife’s safety, open the safe.

They then grabbed thousands of pounds in cash, before taking Danny upstairs, tying him and Tina up with washing line and fleeing.

Fortunately, the couple were able to free themselves and alert police. They were unhurt, but badly shaken.

Danny, who has run pubs and clubs for 20 years, told the M.E.N: “I was terrified – you don’t expect to find that when you open your eyes at night.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

“They were telling me to take them to the safe. I did everything they said because I knew Tina was still upstairs with the guy with the machete.

“Then they took me back upstairs and tied us both up by our hands.”

Danny and Tina have been at the Melville Hotel for almost two years.

After two decades in the business, Danny says he has never experienced a robbery before.

He added: “I was just thinking that if we made a wrong move or did something wrong or not quickly enough, we would get a smack.

“I was scared for my life and worried about my wife. I just wanted us both to get out unharmed.

“Tina is really upset.”Danny and Tina have now stepped up security at the pub after the early morning raid on April 14 – including new alarms, panic buttons and new measures for handling cash.

Police are appealing for information and want to find out where the set of ladders used by the gang came from.

Det Con Simon Johnson, based at Stretford police station, said: “To be woken by machete-wielding men must have been horrific.”

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0161 856 9168 or 0800 555 111.