AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after armed burglars stole £15,000 in a raid on a Southampton nightclub.

Burglars gained access to Café Parfait, in Above Bar Street, Southampton via the back door just after 7.45pm on New Year’s Day.

The club's CCTV footage shows three intruders, who were carrying crowbars and sledgehammers, forcing their way through sealed doors to an office containing the safe.

The intruders were described as stocky middle aged men. One carried a crowbar and mallet and the other a knife.

It is believed the pair, who both wore hooded jackets, knew the layout of the premises.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman said: "We can now release these CCTV images of the incident and would ask anyone who recognises these people to get in contact with us.

"Do you recognise the clothing at all?

"Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in the Above Bar area at this time of night on New Year's Day?"

Richard Sims, the club's general manager said: "The robbers were out within minutes so the people knew exactly where everything was and were likely to have known the premises.’’

He added: "I feared for my life.

"If it was an hour later, my staff could have been in there and it could have been so much worse."

Richard Gilbert, owner and director of Cafe Parfait, is appealing to anyone to come forward with any information about the burglary describing the incident as "a horrendous start to 2017".

If anyone saw anything suspicious or has any information they should call Hampshire Constabulary on 101 quoting reference number 44170001002.