Staff at Midlands Air Ambulance were terrorised by masked men brandishing an electric stun gun in an armed raid at their Black Country headquarters.

Up to 20 members of staff were taken hostage and threatened when three robbers burst into the offices in Brierley Hill offices on Tuesday.

The gang took bags of cash, thought to be thousands of pounds, that had been donated by the public in recent days to help fund the three helicopters.

The charity and police condemned the robbers as “despicable” and “horrific” as a region-wide hunt was launched for the thugs.

But dedicated staff were back at work hours later – determined not to be beaten.

Charity director Hanna Sebright, said: “I find it hard to comprehend that people would commit such a  violent crime and steal money from a life-saving charity.

“Dedicated people have gone to great lengths to raise money, and it is appalling that it will be unable to be used for the purpose of keeping the Air Ambulances in the air.

"This despicable act could actually cost people’s lives.”

She added: “Every single penny counts, and more so in these really difficult economic times. It is morally reprehensible.”

The men burst into the charity’s office on the Enterprise Trading Estate, off Pedmore Road, in Brierley Hill, at 8.45am.

Staff were threatened with the Taser-type stun gun and forced to hand over their mobile phones.

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