ARMED raiders at a betting shop were stopped in their tracks when eight punters decided to pounce on them.

Three masked men carrying a knife, a brick and wheelbrace charged into Ladbrokes, in Little Hulton District Centre, and demanded cash from terrified staff members.

With a 57-year-old worker and the 39-year-old manageress cowering in the corner, they leapt over the counter and began to plunder the shop.

But one of the punters urged the others to swiftly take action.

The customers put down their pens and threw bins and plastic card holders at the surprised trio, eventually managing to capture one of the men.

But they had to let him go when his accomplice re-entered the shop, threatening the eight men with a brick.

Customer Graham Farnworth, aged 50, from Little Hulton, who dived into the fray, said: "I thought it was a joke at first because it happened so fast.

"They charged into the shop and leaped over the counter shouting, 'Give me your money'.

"Both girls in the shop were screaming so we all decided to do something.

"We hit them with whatever we could get our hands on. They grabbed a bit of money but I don't think it was half as much as they would have if we had not intervened.

"I think one of the men left a bit bruised and battered."

Jeff Parker, aged 57, from Little Hulton, added: "There were missiles flying about the place when we decided to fight back. We couldn't just stand back and let them do what they wanted.

"The main thing is nobody got seriously hurt."

One of the customers hurt his finger in the incident and went to hospital for treatment.

The men barged into the shop at 1.40pm on Thursday. They threatened the staff members before escaping in a green Volkswagon Golf, registration Y164 XRY -- a vehicle stolen from the Pendleton area on November 13.

For one staff worker the raid brought back memories of a similar attack eight years ago.

The 57-year-old shop worker, who has worked at the Little Hulton premises for 30 years, said: "I was terrified and I just thought, 'not again.'

"They were just so menacing. The manageress and I just stayed in the corner screaming at them to get what they wanted and leave.

"I can't thank the customers enough because I dread to think what would have happened without them.

"There was a time eight years ago when I had been tied up by robbers who were hiding in the toilets after closing time. Both times have been a complete blur."

She said the knife was "around 12 inches" long and described the men as being of bulky build.

Her sons have asked her to quit her job but she said she was going to return to work -- at least for the time being.

"I don't know how I will feel until I get behind the counter again," she said.

Jeff Parker, 57, from Little Hulton, was another daring punter. He said: "There were missiles flying about the place when we decided to fight back. We couldn't just stand back and let them do what they wanted.

"The main thing is nobody got seriously hurt."

One of the customers hurt his finger in the incident and went to hospital for treatment.