THREE shots were fired and a security guard attacked during an attempted armed robbery in Bury.

Three men struck outside the Aldi supermarket on Bell Lane at 4.24pm on Saturday afternoon, as a Securicor guard was putting the days takings into the rear of the van.

He was approached by two of the men, who punched and kicked him and threatened him with a silver revolver, before ordering him to hand over the cash.

Three shots were fired in the incident but no one was injured and no money was stolen.

It is the second time the supermarket has been targeted by armed raiders in three months.

Police say the first man was white, 5ft 5ins tall, with a stocky build. He had a scarf covering the lower part of his face.

The second man was also white, between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 7ins tall with a stocky build.

He was wearing a full-face balaclava with eye holes cut out, black woollen gloves and carried a silver handgun.

The third man is not described.

All three escaped in a Rover car which had been stolen from the Whitefield area the day before. It was later found abandoned in Wash Lane in Bury.

Detectives are in the process of interviewing witnesses to the incident and are urging anyone with any information to contact Bury Crime Management Unit on 0161 856 8157. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555111.

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