Jamie's nightmare: Parents' pub is robbed

Detectives are hunting robbers who stole about £10,000 from the pub where celebrity chef Jamie Oliver grew up. Five men armed with baseball bats and hammers raided The Cricketers at Clavering, Essex, which is owned by the celebrity chef's parents Trevor and Sally, police said. The gang attacked at around 11pm on Sunday as the pub was closing and made off with cash from a till and a safe. Jamie's parents were not at the pub but staff were threatened and two assaulted, police added. Detectives said the raiders made off in a dark saloon car. Witnesses said one spoke with a South African accent and two in 'unknown' foreign languages. Jamie Oliver talks about growing up at the pub on his website, where he describes The Cricketers as 'lovely'. His father has appeared with him on his food programmes. "My dad runs a lovely pub-restaurant, The Cricketers, in Clavering, Essex, where I grew up," writes the chef. "I remember being fascinated by what went on in the kitchen. It just seemed such a cool place, everyone working together to make this lovely stuff and having a laugh doing it." Police said they had no evidence to suggest that the pub had been targeted because of its celebrity link.