ARMED raiders struck at a Bramhope hotel as a wedding celebration was taking place.

Two masked men armed with weapons including an axe targeted the Britannia Hotel on Leeds Road shortly before 10pm on Sunday.They threatened two members of staff on the front desk and stole cash from a safe and from a till before escaping in a vehicle. No-one was injured.

Two men, aged 27 and 30, were later arrested on suspicion of robbery and are currently in custody.

Now wedding guests who may have witnessed the robbery are being asked to come forward.

Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of Leeds District CID, said: "This was a very frightening experience for the members of staff involved those who witnessed it and we are carrying out extensive enquiries into the incident.

"A wedding celebration was taking place at the hotel at the time the robbery occurred and we believe there may be people who witnessed the incident who have not yet spoken to the police.

"We would like to hear from anyone who was there and saw any part of the incident, no matter how insignificant they think what they saw might be."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting crime reference 13190422516 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.