A CASH reward is being offered for information that leads to the successful prosecution of armed robbers who targeted a coal merchant.

Robert Maddison, was working at R Maddison Fuels on the Thornley Station Industrial Estate, Shotton Colliery, when he was approached by three men in ski masks.

One of them threatened him with a baseball bat and demanded he hand over his £7,000 takings.

Mr Maddison, 51, said: "He was holding the bat above my head so I handed over what I had.

"It was scary in a way but there is no point panicking in a situation like that.

"You just have to give them what they want and get them on the road."

It is not the first time Mr Maddison has been the victim of armed raiders.

In 1991, he was stabbed, slashed with a Stanley knife and beaten up in his home at Ludworth.

His attackers fled empty handed but were caught the following day and eventually jailed for around eight years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr Maddison, who lives at Shotton Colliery, now hopes the coal yard robbers will also be brought to justice.

He said: "It is very important that they are caught because they could come back."

The incident happened on December 10 at around 3pm and detectives from Durham Constabulary are investigating.

The men left the yard in a dark coloured small hatchback, parked nearby, with the hatchback open, possibly to disguise the number plate.

The man with the baseball bat was over 6ft and very heavily built, like a body builder and dressed in dark clothing.

The other two were around 5ft 8ins, of medium build and dressed in dark clothing.

A black BMW compact and an old shaped white Ford Focus estate car were seen leaving the industrial estate as the robbery was taking place.

A police spokesman said: "It is possible that the people in those cars saw the robbers or their getaway car, so police are urging them to come forward.

"Police would also like to speak to a man who was in the coal yard at the time of the offence."

Any witnesses, are anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0345-60-60-365 and ask for Peterlee CID, or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.