A bank robber was thwarted in his getaway by restaurant workers who attacked him with mop handles.

Christopher Bell, of Brodie Avenue, Allerton, was one of three men who robbed the Royal Bank of Scotland, in Poynton, on 29 April 2016.

The group had entered the bank through a hole they created in the roof and once inside threatened staff with violence.

Staff were forced to open safes and tills and the robbers left the building with a large quantity of money.

But when they tried to flee and get in a stolen car, parked at the back of the bank, staff at a nearby Indian restaurant attacked them with mop handles.

The robbers were then forced to escape the scene on foot and two of them – Paul Hughes, 33, of no fixed address, and Sean McNeil, 26, formerly of Allerton Road, Woolton , Liverpool – were caught by police that day.

They were each jailed for 12 years in November 2016.

Christopher Bell, 29, of Brodie Avenue, Allerton, was one of three men who robbed the Royal Bank of Scotland, in Poynton, on 29 April 2016.

However, Bell remained on the run for more than a year and ended up handing himself into Knutsford Police Station on July 21, 2017.

The 29-year-old was jailed for nine years at Chester Crown Court , on January 16, after pleading guilty to the bank robbery.

Detective Constable Stephen Joyce said: “Thankfully all three of the bank robbers are now behind bars and serving lengthy prison sentences.

“Robbery is a very serious crime and they subjected the staff at the bank to a terrifying and traumatic experience.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who helped us to apprehend the robbers.

“The restaurant staff showed incredible bravery in thwarting the robbers’ getaway and their efforts were key in bringing these men to justice.

“Christopher Bell tried to evade justice but it was only a matter of time before he was caught and he eventually decided to hand himself in.”