TWO brutal thugs tied up and attacked a York car park supervisor - before making off with thousands of pounds.

The victim, 60, had arrived to collect weekend takings at the NCP car park in Piccadilly when the pair struck.

They grabbed him and dragged him to his office upstairs before tying him up with cables, and punching him in the head.

Sergeant Julian Pearson, of York Police, said the men threatened him and demanded to know the whereabouts of the money.

They then made off with a quantity of cash, believed to be about £2,000.

The attendant was left shocked and distressed by the ordeal, and also suffered bruising and cuts to his face. He was treated at the scene by paramedics, but was not taken to hospital.

The attack happened at about 8am yesterday.

"He is obviously distressed. It's not the sort of thing he expects at 8 o' clock in the morning," said Sgt Pearson.

"It doesn't strike me as a spontaneous type of robbery."

Police sealed off the offices as forensic officers scoured the room for clues.

Three police vans and a fast response patrol car attended the scene, along with paramedics, and officers questioned commuters in the street as they made their way to work.

One of the robbers wore a black motorcycle helmet. He was described as white, in his late 40s, unshaven and about 5ft 9ins tall. He was of slim build and wore blue jeans.

The other man was also white, and about 40, also unshaven.

He was about 5ft, 9ins tall, and of slim to medium build.

He wore a black, single layer jacket and blue jeans. He was possibly wearing woollen gloves.

Police said a Reebok bag and a motorcycle may have been used in the robbery.

Sgt Pearson said they were studying CCTV footage, but said the cameras in Piccadilly were believed to be facing in the wrong direction at the time of the robbery.

"Witnesses have reported one of the men wearing a crash helmet so we are hopeful someone might have seen them," he said.

Dave Dee, 54, owner of the Banana Warehouse in Piccadilly which is next to the NCP car park, said: "The guy is only about eight stone when he is wet through. I wish they'd have tried to rob me. I'm really shocked.

"We never get any trouble round here."

Anyone with information is asked to phone York police on 0845 60 60 247.

Updated: 08:47 Tuesday, May 09, 2006