A GANG is being hunted following a violent robbery which ended with two people in hospital after a suspected getaway car crashed.

A man is understood to have been struck with a weapon during the robbery carried out by ‘four to six men wearing balaclavas’ at a garage forecourt in Furthergate, Blackburn.

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The robbers escaped with ‘a significant amount of gold and cash’ according to police, but the victim and a second man who was with him, followed the men in their car as the gang tried to escape in a blue Peugeot van.

The initial incident happened at 6.30pm on Tuesday and the robbers were seen a short time later abandoning the Peugeot.

It is thought they then got into a gold coloured Renault Scenic in Copperfield Street.

At around 6.45pm, while being followed by the victims, who are wholesale sellers of gold, the Scenic crashed into a white Renault van and a black Ford Fiesta at the junction of Blackamoor Road and Roman Road.

A 44-year-old woman was cut out of her Ford by firefighters from Blackburn Station and taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

A 65-year-old man was also injured in the crash and taken to Royal Blackburn.

He remained there last night. His injuries were not described as life-threatening.

The police helicopter was called to the crash, as well as officers on the ground, as the gang fled. A police spokesman said officers were not following the vehicle when it crashed.

A 45-year-old man from Leeds has been has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with a £100,000 gold and cash robbery. Police have made no further arrests.

Det Insp Tim McDermott, of Lancashire Police, said: “I would appeal for witnesses who may have seen a large blue Peugeot panel van or a gold coloured Renault Scenic on Tuesday.

“Our enquiries suggest the two vehicles, as well as the suspect in custody, have links to the West Yorkshire area.

“It is also possible those vehicles visited the Whalley Range area of Blackburn around 6pm and it’s vital that anyone who saw either vehicle gets in touch.

“The robbery was conducted swiftly and with violence and the manner of driving that lead to the collision showed a total disregard for the safety of anyone else.

“It’s nothing but luck that nobody was killed in that crash and all those involved need to be found swiftly.”

Det Insp McDermott said the inquiry was in its early stages but officers were following up a number of leads.

He saidd: “At this stage it appears that at least some of the offenders who ran from the scene of the collision did so via nearby Pickering Fold. I would appeal to anyone who saw the incidents or who saw a blue Peugeot Van or gold Renault Scenic in the areas, or on the motorway network, to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 1101 of 28th June.