MASKED armed robbers tied up staff at a Bolton firm and escaped with thousands of pounds in cash last night.

Two raiders - one wearing a ghoulish Halloween mask - pounced as staff were leaving Findlater & Mackie on Lecturer's Close near Bolton town centre.

The manager and another employee were made to lie on the floor as the gunmen rifled their clothes to find the business keys.

The staff were forced at gunpoint back into the building and made to open the safe.

The robbers, who both brandished handguns throughout the raid, grabbed £7,742 from the safe and some cheques. Then the robbers tied up both members of staff before escaping.

The pair managed to raise the alarm by shuffling across the floor to the telephone and dialling 999.

Detectives believe the gunmen had lain in wait in a carefully planned attack. Staff had been doing a stock take at the wine merchants.

Both gunmen were white. One was 5ft 6ins, stocky build, in his late 20s. The bottom of his face was covered up. He was wearing a waist length jacket. The other was slightly younger, about 5ft 9 and slim build. He was wearing a Hallowe'en mask. He may have had a Liverpool accent.

Anyone with information about the raid at about 9pm last night should call Bolton CID on 0161 872 5050 or the free confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.