FOUR men have been arrested after a robbery outside a workingmen's club by raiders wielding baseball bats.

Three committee members from New Durham Workingmen's Club were taking two bags of cash to the bank, on Tuesday morning, when they were ambushed by the masked men.

The committee members fought back and during the scuffle that followed, the robbers dropped one of the bags outside the club, which is in Gilesgate on the outskirts of Durham City.

They fled with the other bag, which contained several thousand pounds of takings from the bar.

The committee members were left shocked but unhurt.

Tony Pears, relief steward at the club, praised their quick-thinking action during the robbery.

He said all three were "pretty brave and did a good job".

It is thought that the robbers escaped in a blue Ford Sierra car, which had been parked nearby.

The car was found abandoned several minutes later behind Malvern Villas, on the Sherburn Road Estate, just a short distance from the scene of the robbery.

Three men wearing dark clothing, possibly boiler suits, were seen running away from the car, towards Laurel Avenue Primary School.

Four men, all from the Gilesgate or Sherburn areas of Durham, were arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the incident.

Three men, aged 18, 24 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, and the fourth, who is 22, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

The four were questioned at Durham City police office and released on police bail to return on August 1.

No charges have been made at this stage and the bag containing the cash has not been recovered.

The robbery took place at about 10.30am, and police are appealing for witnesses.

They would also like to hear from anyone who saw the Sierra, registration number E165 JJF, in the Gilesgate area, on Monday or Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to telephone Durham CID, on 0191-386 4222, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.