FOUR company bosses were held at gunpoint and robbed as they held a board meeting.

Masked raiders burst into Vision Commercial Kitchens in Whitefield on Tuesday at 7.45pm. They were armed with a handgun and large wooden staves and threatened the bosses with violence.

With the gun pointed at his head, Jack Sharkey and his colleagues Craig Forrester, Phil Shea and Chris Rouine, were ordered to lie face down on the floor. The four robbers ordered the men to hand over their wallets, watches and mobile phones. They searched the building and stole three laptop computers.

The offenders escaped in three company cars, all silver coloured MG ZTs, and together valued at £60,000. Only one of the vehicles has been recovered, in Salford.

Joint managing director Mr Sharkey said: "The men somehow smashed their way through a security door and Phil and Chris tried to stop them getting into the main office area without success.

"We were all pushed back into the boardroom. One of them had a semi-automatic gun. We were told to get on the floor and hand over our property and the keys to the company cars.

"When you have a gun pointed at your head you do what you are told. We all seemed to be quite calm. It was only afterwards, when it was over, that we realised how frightening it had been. We had a few stiff drinks."

A man who was working late at a neighbouring business at the Park 17 Industrial Estate in Moss Lane saw the armed men smashing the security door and alerted the police. By the time officers arrived, the robbers had escaped.

The company, which designs, plans and installs kitchens in hotels, pubs and restaurants, was formed in January of last year and employs nine staff.

"I am just glad that no-one was injured," added Mr Sharkey (43) who lives in Rossendale with his wife and four children.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the whereabouts of the stolen cars is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8150 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.