A MAN armed with an axe tried to rob a security guard as he filled a cash a machine at a town centre store.

But the guard fought back and the thief was forced to flee.

The attempted robbery happened at 9.20am on Saturday at Tesco Extra in Centenary Way, Burnley.

The robber, wearing a motorcycle helmet and a fluorescent hi-vis jacket, approached the guard from Loomis as he was loading cartridges containing thousands of pounds into the ATM as shoppers milled around.

The robber, armed with an axe, caused the startled worker to fall backwards and then he snatched a cash cassette and ran off towards a motorcycle parked around 20 yards away.

The guard chased the man and managed to grab the cassette back before the robber rode off on a silver motorcycle.

Detectives are now investigating the incident which took place at the ATM block below the main shopping area.

Inspector John Fryer said: “The security guard was very brave.

“It’s not what you come to work for.

“It was an alarming incident to take place at 9.20am on a Saturday when the store was full of shoppers.

“The guard for security firm G4S was loading the cash machine with a substantial amount of money, thousands or possibly tens of thousands of pounds.

“A man wearing a motorcycle helmet approached him with a small, short handled axe, threatened him and seized the cartridges containing the cash.

“After he had taken the money, the guard bravely fought back and snatched back the cash.

“The offender then got on a silver motorcycle and rode off up Centenary Way towards Manchester Road.

“He led empty-handed thanks to the actions of the security guard.

“It was a very alarming and unpleasant incident for that busy time on a Saturday morning but luckily no one was injured.”

DC Melissa Chadwick said: “There will have been lots of families and shoppers about and so I am directly appealing to those people, or anyone who was driving around the supermarket car park or was parked up around the time of the incident, especially those with any potential dash cam footage, to come forward."

The thief was white and 6ft tall. Call police on 101.