FOUR men are being sought by police following a violent raid on a garden centre.

The thieves were disturbed by the owners of Ravens-worth Garden Nurseries, near Richmond, at about 4am on Saturday.

While trying to escape they attacked 66-year-old Bill Hannah with steel bars before fleeing in a car.

Mr Hannah was hit on the arm and head but was not seriously hurt and did not require any hospital treatment.

His partner and brother-in-law, Doug Bradbrook, 67, said they had gone to investigate after the alarm system went off.

He said: "There were four of them. My brother-in-law got on the phone to the police and then they came out with steel bars.

"They had steel posts about five feet long, but Bill is all right now.

"In retrospect, perhaps we shouldn't have gone up there, but you don't think of that at the time."

The four thugs, who stole the till, drove off in a dark car towards the A66.

One of the men was described as shaven-headed, about 5ft 9in tall and was wearing a camouflage jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to call Richmond CID, on (01609) 789357.