A BRAVE barmaid has spoken of her terrifying ordeal at the hands of four masked men who robbed the club she works in.

Amber Smith, 20, whose dad Ian Smith owns the Sturdee Sports Club, in Stoke Road, Hoo, was threatened by the gang, who were armed with iron bars.

It was the third break-in to have happened at the club this year, after a charity box was stolen in February and then, two weeks later, ram raiders tried to steal the safe.

The men, who wore balaclavas and dark clothing, locked Amber and her friend, Karl Trim, 27, from Sheerness, in a cupboard and demanded the keys to the club’s fruit machine and safe.

Amber, from Strood, said: "They were the most stupid criminals imaginable.

"They locked me and Karl in a cupboard that opened inwards so we could easily get out of it and they didn’t even question me when I said I didn’t have the keys to the safe.

"I even asked them if they’d done it before because they were making such a hash of it."

The robbers threatened Amber with iron bars and sprayed her with a fire extinguisher but she refused to tell them where the keys were.

They smashed the club’s wide screen TV and broke dozens of glasses all over the floor. A collection box of toys for children had to be thrown away because it was filled with glass.

Mr Smith, 41, said: "I’m just so relieved that Amber’s OK. She was really brave, she’s an absolute hero and I’m really proud of her.

"She even tackled one of them to the floor when he tried to pinch her brother’s mini-motorbike.

"Her courage meant that they got away with only £1,200, when it could have been a lot more."

Anyone with information about the incident, which took place on Sunday, July 24, is asked to contact Medway Police on 01634 884252 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.