TWO vehicles believed to have been used in an armed robbery on a cash delivery van at a building society have been recovered by police.

An abandoned white Renault Kangoo van was discovered at the junction of Hapton Road and Levant Street, in Hapton - it is thought four or five men jumped out of it and fled in the Hapton Road direction.

And a silver Vauxhall Corsa, also thought to have been used in the raid, and stolen previously in the Swinton area of Salford, was discovered in nearby Castle Street, Hapton, around the same time last Saturday.

During the raid on November 6, two security guards were struck with iron bars outside the Abbey National, in Burnley Road, Padiham.

Staff from Securicor were refilling a cash machine outside the Abbey National when they were confronted by a four-strong gang, around 8pm.

Brandishing the bars and wearing ski masks, the gang left the security officers with head and arm injuries.

The injured guards were taken to the accident and emergency department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment.

Police are still trying to trace a vital eye-witness who is believed to have seen either the armed robbery itself, or its immediate aftermath.

He told police that he had seen a van disappear in the direction of Green Street, Padiham, just after the incident, but he did not leave his details with officers and is still yet to be traced.

Police have issued descriptions of two of the four men in the attack.

At least three of them are said to have been carrying iron bars.

The first raider is white, slim, 6ft 2in to 6ft 4in tall, with a Manchester accent.

He was wearing dark jeans, a white long-sleeved top, and a white ski mask.

Detectives say he was particularly aggressive during the course of the robbery.

Another of the raiders is also white, stocky, and around 5ft 10in tall.

He was wearing black jeans, a black long-sleeved top, and a black ski mask.

Potential witnesses to the raid, or anyone who has any information, is asked to contact Det Sgt Ian Glass, or Det Insp Sam Birtwell, on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.