TWO armed teenagers burst into a church on Stoneygate, Preston, and robbed a group of women.

The robbers went into the First Church of Christ Scientist at around 8.20pm on Tuesday, February 12. They went into a reading room and threatened five women, aged between 50 and 70 years old.

One of the teenagers had a knife, the other was wielding a broken bottle. They stole the women's bags, containing cash and credit cards. Police are studying CCTV footage to trace the pair.

The first man -- carrying the bottle -- was around 16 years old and was wearing a pale grey or silver hip-length hooded coat. The second robber was 16 to 17 years old, wearing a black balaclava, clothes and gloves.

Anyone with information should call Preston police on 203203 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.