DETECTIVES are hunting robbers who tied and gagged staff at a Southampton bingo hall before making off with the night's takings.

Two male and one female member of staff at the Mecca bingo hall in Portswood Road, Portswood, were shutting the premises following a Christmas function when one of the staff was approached by a man claiming to have left something in the building.

Once inside, the intruder allowed three other men to enter, who overpowered the three staff members and tied, gagged and bound two of them to a staircase.

The robbers then forced the third staff member to let them into the cash room, and the four escaped with a large cash sum. The exact amount taken has not been revealed for security reasons. The two bound staff members were freed by the third staff member within minutes of the robbers' getaway before the police were called.

No-one was injured during the incident at around 10.50pm on Sunday.

One anonymous Mecca bingo hall employee told the Daily Echo last night: "I was working on Sunday night and we had 284 people in. It was a busy night. I left work about 9.30pm and only heard about what happened earlier today. We've been given some details of what happened by the management but told not to talk about it to anyone outside the company.

"This is the first time anything like this has happened."

Insp Dick Pearson, based at Bitterne CID, said: "This was an extremely ruthless robbery."

He urged anyone in the area or who has information about the robbery to call as soon as possible. He said: "We know at least one customer may have seen the male who talked his way into the Mecca building and would ask them to come forward."

One robber was white, about 5ft 10in, aged in his mid-20s, with cropped light brown hair. He was clean shaven and spoke with a local accent.

Mecca bosses said they would not be releasing details of the staff members involved in the robbery. A spokeswoman added: "Naturally those involved in this incident will be quite traumatised. We will continue to help police with their inquiries."