A BURY businessman was brutally beaten with a hammer and had his watch cut from his wrist during an armed robbery.

Mark Bedward, aged 45, fought a running battle with the three masked thugs despite sustaining a broken nose, severe bruising and other injuries in the horror attack at a house in Brandlesholme.

He feared for his life when a knife was pressed against his skin, but managed to wrestle a hammer from one of his attackers to defend himself.

The three men escaped through a kitchen window with cash, computers, cameras and other personal belongings.

Mr Bedward, whose Bury-based Global Telecoms and Technology company shut in February with the loss of 100 jobs, said he confronted the three raiders on the landing as he emerged from an upstairs bedroom during the evening of Tuesday, June 16.

He was struck from behind by a hammer and as his right arm was held, had a knife put to his side while one of the attackers repeatedly hit him in the face.

Mr Bedward said: “As blood poured from me, the gang was shouting and demanding ‘where’s the money, where’s the jewellery and where’s the safe?

“They used a knife to cut a watch from my wrist and forced a ring from my finger while they held me at knife-point and as I sustained blow after blow.”

Realising they were locked in, the robbers tried to kick their way out through patio doors and hurled vases at the windows which failed to break due to toughened glass. Mr Bedward was able to grab the hammer from his attackers and chased after them after they eventually fled the house.

He was treated in hospital for his injuries which included head wounds, a broken nose and severe bruising and damage to his eyes.

Greater Manchester Police’s helicopter was scrambled and police dogs searched the area.

Det Con Dave Potter, of Bury Police, said: “This offence could have been far more serious. It was callous that the offenders hit the victim without warning.”

Mr Bedward added: “I was absolutely stunned, shocked and horrified to be attacked so violently in what should be the safety of my own home.

“I would now like to turn my attention and efforts to helping others avoid suffering the horror that I have experienced.

“I have been in touch with a series of local companies with a view to offering a personal home safety service.”

The three thugs were described as aged in their mid-20s, of athletic build and were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

Police are not directly linking this incident to two separate but similar armed robberies when three men targeted homes in Manchester Road, Bury, and Kingsbury Close, Tottington.