A TAXI company assistant spoke last night of his horror at being confronted by armed raiders who burst into his small office.

Four masked men, armed with a shotgun and a hand gun, escaped with about £1,000 in the robbery at Mac's Taxis, in Sherburn Road, on the outskirts of Durham.

Assistant John Shawcross was bound and ushered with members of proprietor John McManners' family into a room.

The raiders forced Mr McManners to hand over money from the office safe before making off at about 7.15pm on Wednesday.

Police said last night it was not clear if the raiders escaped on foot or in a waiting car.

Mr McManners needed hospital treatment for a facial injury while his wife, Kathleen, son Jonathan and his girlfriend, Emma, and Mr Shawcross, were all left traumatised by the ordeal.

Mr Shawcross said: "They just came in and it was obvious what was happening. There seemed to be three of them, all wearing masks, but apparently there were four.

"The first thing I did was get on the ground, as instructed. They tied my hands in front of me and dragged me into the room with the others.

"It only lasted minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. Nothing like this has ever happened before."

Despite suffering shock, Mr Shawcross decided to return to work yesterday "as an act of defiance".

But he said he and the McManners family had been comforted by many calls from concerned friends, relatives and clients.

Detective Sergeant Eric Malkin, of Durham City CID, appealed for anyone who may have seen the raiders entering or fleeing the premises, to come forward.

"Any incident involving firearms is likely to leave those on the receiving end very shaken, and this robbery is no exception," he said.

"We are making inquiries in the area. But in the meantime we are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen these men around the area of Mac's Taxis on Wednesday night."

Witnesses are asked to ring Durham CID, on 0191-386 422, or the Crimestoppers freephone line, on (0800) 555111.