Armed robbers allegedly told staff at York City Art Gallery they would get a £50,000 cheque if they "behaved themselves".

The balaclava-clad raiders made off with 20 paintings worth £700,000, the jury at York Crown Court heard.

They left behind cut paintings, damaged frames and fragments from the glass case of a £350,000 Turner watercolour.

Craig William Townend, 29, denies robbery and carrying a firearm with intent. William Spence, 49, denies handling 20 stolen paintings. Both men live in Middle Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham.

Gallery attendant Anthony Dunnington said he was tied up hand and foot with three other colleagues in its exhibition room by two men carrying guns at about closing time, 5pm.

The taller robber told them: "If you behave yourselves there will be a cheque in the post" claimed Mr Dunnington.

"Was any figure mentioned?" asked Andrew Campbell QC, prosecuting.

"£50,000," replied Mr Dunnington.

Attendant Ronald Fisher alleged that when gallery shop manager Patricia Jeanette Gelder first saw the robbers carrying a shotgun and a hand-gun, she laughed and thought it was a joke, but was quickly persuaded it was not.

The four staff members gave different descriptions of the robbers, their clothes and holdalls allegedly used to remove the paintings.

Curator Richard Green said the 20 stolen paintings varied in value from the £350,000 Turner to a £3,500 picture and together were worth £700,000. Between them the 20 suffered damage estimated at £11,670.

One of York Minster had a three and a half inch wide strip cut from it after it was stolen.

A further £350 damage was done to paintings and frames left in the gallery.

The trial continues.

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