POLICE are hunting masked armed robbers who forced staff at McDonalds in Skipton to lie on the floor while they stole cash from the tills.

An 18-year-old kitchen worker was hit in the face with what was thought to be an axe during the robbery on Sunday night.

At about 9.45pm three men in a green Vauxhall Cavalier drove through the no entry sign into the drive-through. The car pulled up outside the main doors and two of the men, with scarves pulled over their faces, ran into the restaurant.

One used a knife and the other the suspected axe to force the seven members of staff to lie on the floor. It was at this point the kitchen worker was hit with the butt of the axe. He was later treated for severe bruising in hospital.

There were no customers in the store at the time of the robbery.

The robbers forced the drawers from the two tills on the main counter and the drive-through and ran off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Their green Cavalier was later found opposite Bentley's Ltd on the Snaygill Industrial Estate. It had a smashed window and the ignition was damaged. Scenes of crime officers have examined the vehicle.

It had been stolen from Skipton Railway Station between 5.30pm on Saturday and the time of the offence.

Restaurant manager Steve Batty said: "Essentially it (the incident) was dealt with in the best possible way." He said the manager did everything he was trained to do in that he stayed calm and gave the men what they wanted.

Mr Batty said the robbers got away with very little. On Monday he spoke to all members of staff who were on duty and all were fine.

DC Angela Moorhouse said this was a frightening incident in which violence was used on a young member of staff. She said the robbers had to be caught quickly.

All members of staff have been interviewed and police are continuing their inquiries.

DC Moorhouse is appealing for anyone who might have information about the robbery to contact Skipton CID on 01756 793377.

The first robber was a white male, about five feet 10 tall, slim build, wearing combat trousers, a white jacket, black hat, a scarf over his face and carrying the axe.

The second man was white, between five feet 10 and six feet tall, wearing a black top, cream woolly hat, a scarf over his face and was carrying the knife.