By JOHN HORNE POLICE believe a young mum may have vital information which could help track down a gang of cash snatchers.

The three men grabbed more than £3,000 from two women who were delivering the takings to an Astley Bridge bank on Thursday afternoon.

The young mother, who was pushing a pram, saw the robbery in progress and ran into the Royal Bank of Scotland in Blackburn Road to raise the alarm.

Detectives hunting the raiders want to speak to the quick-thinking mother, or any other witnesses who may have information about the gang. The raiders are believed to have been waiting outside the Astley Bridge Bank for some time before the women employees from a local leisure firm arrived to deposit their takings at 3pm.

One thug ran up to the women and bundled them to the ground before snatching the money. The man jumped into a white C-reg Nissan before driving away at high speed.

The car was later found abandoned near the Ainsworth Arms in Halliwell Road.

Detectives said the two men are white. One is in his early 20s with short dark gelled hair, about 5ft 6ins tall, wearing a dark blue bomber jacket and light coloured jeans.

The second thief is about 6ft, slim, in his early 20s, wearing a cream coloured denim jacket with short spikey hair.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Det Con Paul Swindells at Astley Bridge CID, tel: 0161 856 5748.

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