FIVE men are accused of committing robbery at the Abbey Stadium in Blundson and making off with Saturday night's takings.

It is alleged that nearly £18,000 was taken in the raid when two members of staff were injured.

The robbery happened as two employees were cashing up Satur-day night's takings at the Blunsdon site.

A total of £17,885 was taken during the incident, which happened in the early hours of Sunday.

Five men, all from London, appeared in the dock yesterday accused of robbing the two staff members.

Andre Khorassandjian, 27, of Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, Ronaldo Samuel, 22, of Millbrook Road, Edmonton, Dominic Roberts, 29, of Tottenham Lane, Jamaal Fairclough, 25, of Oxford Gardens, Notting Hill and Jonathan Gill, 28, of Norman Court, Hornsey, were all told their case would be heard at crown court.

The men said nothing, other than to state their names, ages and addresses.

Their solicitors made no applications for bail.

The bench remanded them in custody until Friday when they are due at Swindon Crown Court for a preliminary hearing.

Abbey Stadium company secretary Steve Hayward, speaking at the stadium, said: "This wasn't the kind of situation I would envy anyone being in.

"Fortunately none of the injuries were serious.

"We shall be reviewing our security to see what can be done so that this does not ever happen again."

Tina Clarke