Frank Stuart was left badly bruised and with lacerations ©Getty Images

A night porter has been described as a “hero” after enduring a vicious attack during an armed robbery at a Lewisham hotel in the early hours of this morning.

Frank Stuart, 51, was tied up in the basement of the Jury’s Hotel at 3.30am after confronting two men who broke in while 30 guests slept upstairs.

He was hit with a hammer and slashed with a knife when he refused to reveal where the keys to the safe were.

The intruders left with just £15.

Stuart is now being treated at Whittington Hospital, North London.

The hotel is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.

Jury’s Hotel manager Jeremy Bates said: “We think frank is a hero.

“He knew where the safe keys were kept, but was determined not to give in.”

Detective Inspector James Dallowey urged anyone with information about the two men to come forward.

One is thought to be in his 20s, and described as being 5’ 11”, of stocky build with dark short hair, the other in his 30s, 5’ 4”, of thin build with long brown hair, and wearing a brown sweatshirt with jeans and trainers.