THIEVES who carried out a lightning raid on a popular Taunton pub were within seconds of being caught by the landlord.

Andrew Lee was sound asleep above the Stonegallows Hungry Horse, on Wellington Road, when at least two burglars broke in and burst into the bar below.

They smashed open two gaming machines, stole around £600 in coins and escaped before Mr Lee had time to jump out of bed and rush downstairs.

He said: "I was woken up by the burglar alarm and just jumped out of bed.

"But they'd already gone by the time I got to the bar.

"They obviously knew what they wanted and were in and out in no more than a couple of minutes at the most."

Police are looking for witnesses to the burglary at about 7.45am last Tuesday.

A spokesman said: "It is believed the offenders gained access to the rear of the property, triggering the alarm at the same time.

"Cash was taken from games machines before the offenders left.

"We do not have any descriptions of the offenders, but because the alarm at the public house - which is located on a busy road - was activated, we believe people may have been in the area at the time."

Any witnesses who saw anything suspicious or may have spotted a vehicle in the area at the time should call Taunton police on 0845-4567000.

Mr Lee said it was business as normal following the incident.