A BARMAN was beaten unconscious with a metal bar as a thug ransacked his way through a Bolton pub.

The brutal raider also punched the landlady in the face when she came to the aid of the injured head barman.

The thug rampaged his way though the Victoria British Queen, Blackburn Road, Halliwell, grabbing the night's takings and sandwich money. He tore the phone from off the wall - preventing the staff from raising the alarm - before he fled from the premises.

And today, as detectives hunted the thug, the pub's angry landlord, David Holmes, offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the wanted man. The incident happened shortly after midnight when the barman Nigel Brittain and landlady Elaine Gornall were alone in the pub cashing-up after closing time.

Police believe the raider waited outside for the customers of the friendly local to leave before he entered the premises.

Mr Brittain saw him enter the pub but presumed he wanted a taxi. He was counting the takings when the thug hit him over the head.

Mr Brittain dropped "like a pack of cards" behind the counter. The 33-year-old landlady was punched in the mouth when she tried to defend her barman.

Police arrived on the scene within minutes but the thug had already fled. Mr Brittain was revived by ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital with the landlady. They were both released later this morning after treatment.

Mr Holmes said: "I am not prepared to put up with attacks like this. The man responsible didn't care how badly injured Nigel was. He knocked him unconscious and then left him for dead."

Detectives have released a description of the thug. He is white, 6ft tall with short blond hair and medium build. He was wearing a cream/brown checked shirt and beige trousers. Anyone who can help is asked to ring Astley Bridge CID, tel: 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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