ARMED raiders escaped with thousands of pounds after threatening a female security guard and forcing her to hand over a cash box.

The pair struck as the woman was delivering cash to the Higher Chorley Old Road Post Office in Bolton.

One of them brandished a weapon, forcing the Royal Mail Cashco guard to let go of the security box. The pair then sped away from the scene near the junction of Ivy Road in a grey Ford Escort XR3i. The car was later found abandoned nearby.

The security box was also found abandoned in Devonshire Road yesterday afternoon. An anti-theft device had activated spraying red dye out of the box. Witnesses have reported seeing the raiders drive away from Devonshire Road in a J-registration metallic green Rover. Both raiders were white and in their early 20s wearing baseball caps and scarves over their faces. One was about 6ft tall and had short ginger hair. Det Insp Mick Lay said: "No one was hurt but the guard was threatened and shaken."

The Royal Mail has refused to confirm how much cash was stolen but it is understood to be a substantial amount.

Higher Chorley Old Road Post Office was closed today as investigations continued.

Anyone with any information on the robbery at 12.05pm yesterday can contact Bolton CID on 0161 872 5050.

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