30 November 2012 Last updated at 07:11 ET

Manchester slimming club leader foils raiders

Three masked men who targeted a Manchester slimming class to steal a cashbox were foiled when the class leader hit one of them with a chair.

The men burst into the Slimming World meeting in Harpurhey with one man grabbing the evening's takings.

Police said the leader of the class of six women stopped him by picking up the seat she was on and using it to knock him to the floor.

The three men then left the hall empty-handed at 21:00 GMT on 19 November.

Det Con Kelly Featherstone said: "These men had the audacity to run into a meeting to try to steal the club's takings.

"They were probably not expecting the team leader to put up the fight she did, meaning that thankfully they were not able to get their hands on the takings."

All three men were in their late teens to early 20s.

One man is described as slim, white and 6ft, wearing a body warmer. A second is about 5ft 6in, average to well-built, wearing a body warmer and a balaclava.

The third man is 5ft 4in and of average build, who was also wearing a body warmer and a balaclava.