THIEVES broke into a flat above a village pub in Little Lever on Saturday morning.

They escaped with a quantity of cash and a laptop from the Church Inn in Market Street at 11am.

A resident who lives near the pub called the police after she saw two men trying to open the front door.

Witnesses say police officers with sniffer dogs smashed their way into the premises but the thieves had fled.

Two men aged in their 20s were seen running from the area.

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