THREE terrified women cashiers were bound and gagged before being bundled into a storeroom during an armed raid on a Bury store.

The raiders -- one posing as a police officer -- are believed to have stolen up to £10,000 in the robbery at the Dawn Til Dusk late shop, Mile Lane.

The store staff, who had locked up for the night at 10pm, were cashing up when a man wearing a high visibility jacket knocked at the door claiming to be a police officer.

When the door was unlocked the thief produced a handgun and, accompanied by another man, ordered the staff into a back room where they were bound and gagged.

Det Sgt Duncan Heywood of Bury Police's Crime Management Unit said one of the woman managed to struggle free and alert her husband who was waiting outside.

He added: "All three staff members were very distressed although none of them were physically injured."

Police have now launched an appeal for witnesses and are today interviewing the shop workers to get a better description of the armed robbers.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Bury CID on 0161 856 8150.