A GANG of armed raiders escaped with thousands of pounds after holding up a North-East social club at gunpoint, it emerged last night.

The masked men burst into the Darlington and Simpson Rolling Mills (DSRM) Club, on Longfield Road, and demanded cash from terrified staff.

About six men, all wearing balaclavas, emptied the club's safe and made off with just under £8,000. One robber was said to have been wielding a shotgun, while the others carried a variety of different weapons.

The shotgun is believed to have been pointed at the assistant manager, who was in the building with another member of the bar staff and a customer at the time.

The gun was also pointed at the head of the male customer before the gang made their getaway.

The robbers struck at about 12.40am on Friday, just as the club was being locked up for the night.

The ordeal for the three people in the club lasted about 20 minutes, but no one was seriously injured.

Forensics officers from Darlington police were at the scene over the weekend.

Police declined to reveal any more details about the raid yesterday.

The sports and social club survived following the announcement of the closure of the DSRM in 1998.