A GANG armed with knives handcuffed two security guards and stole three lorries filled with goods from a Littlewoods depot.

Four raiders held the guards in a security office at the depot in Little Hulton and threatened them before driving off in the lorries.

On Monday a hunt was mounted for the gang as Littlewoods checked the stock being carried in the lorries to estimate the cost of the stolen goods.

Police were called to the depot on an industrial estate in Lester Road at around 1.40am on Sunday after a personal security alarm was activated by one of the handcuffed security guards.

It is thought the gang arrived at the depot at around 12.30am in a lorry tractor unit. When the security guards confronted them, they were threatened at knife-point.

The two men were shaken by their ordeal but were unhurt.

Police are believed to have recovered one lorry trailer which had been abandoned by the gang early on Monday.

The security guards had to be freed by firefighters who used cutting gear to release the men from the handcuffs.

Sub officer Kevin OConnor, of Farnworth fire station, said: "They were pretty shaken up by what had happened."

Staff at the depot said they were unable to comment on the incident, but a Littlewoods spokesman said: "We are investigating the situation and making sure our employees are looked after.

"The individuals involved were unharmed but very shaken by their ordeal."

A police spokesman said: "We were called to the industrial estate in the early hours of Sunday morning following a report of a personal attack being activated.

"On arrival officers discovered there had been a robbery. Inquiries are on-going."

l Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.