TWO armed men stormed a Bolton bank and escaped with a substantial amount of cash after threatening security guards.

The raid took place at at the old Natwest Bank on Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge at about 3.15pm yesterday afternoon.

The two raiders forced the two security officers to lie on the floor at gunpoint.

A cash till at the bank is still in operation even though counter services ceased in April.

The security officers were inside the bank refilling the machine when they were confronted .

The gang emptied the contents of the cash dispenser before making their getaway. The handgun was not fired and there were no injuries.

The first raider is described as white, in his 30s with a stocky build, 5ft 9in tall wearing a full face balaclava and an olive green coloured blouson zip fronted jacket and blue denim jeans. No description has been issued for the second man.

Det Insp Graham Ball of Astley Bridge CID made an appeal for information.

He said: "We are anxious to trace any person near to the bank at that time who may have seen someone acting suspiciously or a vehicle they think might have been involved."

Any person who used the cash dispenser that afternoon or anyone who can assist in any way is asked to contact the police on (0161) 872 5050 and ask for CID at Astley Bridge.

In a separate incident a masked man threatened off-licence staff with a knife and stole about £120 in a raid last night.

The man burst into the Greenalls Off-licence on Bolton Road, Atherton, just before 10pm. He produced a five-inch knife blade and forced two female staff to hand over cash from the till.

The raider was white, in his mid-20s, and about 5ft 7in. He was wearing a green Parkha coat and green scarf across his face.

He is believed to have got away in a D-registration Ford Fiesta. Anyone with information should call Leigh police on 0161 872 5050.

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