POLICE are still searching for armed villains following separate raids last week.

A security guard was hit over the head with a hammer and a substantial amount of cash taken in a morning raid at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Market Street, Atherton.

Just a few hours later a Leigh town centre travel agency was raided by armed men who escaped with cash and foreign currency.

The security guard had just left his vehicle and was walking into the Royal Bank of Scotland when he was attacked by four men wearing balaclavas. One struck him over the helmet with a hammer before stealing a quantity of cash.

The gang made off towards the direction of Leigh in a maroon coloured Volvo which had been previously stolen from an address in Cheshire. The car was later discovered abandoned and burned out in York Street.

On Friday afternoon two men entered Going Places in Bradshawgate, Leigh and pulled out a pistol and a knife with which they threatened staff and customers before stealing a quantity of cash in various currencies.

The gunman is described as black, of slim build, aged between 30-40. He wore a baseball cap, sunglasses and light coloured trousers. The knifeman was also black, slimly built and aged between 30-40. He wore dark coloured trousers and jacket.

Anyone with any information on either incident should contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7254 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.