A TERRIFIED office worker was forced to curl up in a bid to protect herself as an armed robber threatened to strike her with a hammer during a wages snatch in Bradford.

Angela Cole said she expected to be hit with the weapon by a balaclava masked robber who wrenched open the door of her boss's Volvo as they returned with cash for the payroll.

She was still in the passenger seat and instinctively drew up her legs to protect herself from a blow from the raider, who had already attempted to break the car window and punched a hole in the door trim with the hammer.

Angela, 54, was so shocked she was unable to remember whether she handed over the cash or whether the robber snatched it from her, but during the commotion the package split, leaving cash blowing around the yard outside Eco Glaze Yorkshire's premises on Hillam Road, off Canal Road, this afternoon.

Several thousands of pounds is thought to have been taken in the incident.

The robber had two accomplices waiting in a silver Vauxhall Vectra and they fled without trying to pick up any of the spilled cash, but still escaped with a haul of thousands of pounds.

A worker from the firm attempted to follow as the Vectra was driven into Canal Road, but the driver accelerated away between lines of traffic and the car was found abandoned a short time later in St Lawrence Close.

Shortly after the attack, Angela told the T&A: "From what we can gather, they were waiting for us. As I opened the door, someone grabbed it.

"He was wearing a balaclava and holding a hammer. He said 'drop it, let it go' and I cannot remember whether I dropped it or whether he snatched it.

"I was so shocked, you don't expect to see someone with a balaclava and a hammer like that. I thought he was going to hit me. He hit the window and inside the door.

"I twisted around in the seat and pulled my legs up because I thought he was going to hit me.

"They knew I had the money, they came to my side of the car. Some of the money fell out and was all over the floor," she said.

It is believed the car was waiting in the company car park before Angela set off with her boss, Bob Leary, to collect the cash for workers' pay.

The vehicle's movements were caught on CCTV and the footage is being studied for potential clues about those responsible.

West Yorkshire Police have appealed for information from anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour in the area early this afternoon, or has other information about the offenders, to contact Bradford District CID by telephone on 101, or use the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 number to pass on their information.