CASH and cheques to the tune of more than £80,000 from a garage takings snatch were later found by man's dog in the garden of his Blackburn home, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how alleged robbers Nigel Tomlinson, 31, and getaway driver Terrence Alderson, 39, were being pursued by police. The bank bag containing the haul was thrown out of their vehicle so they would be empty-handed when stopped.

Alderson, of Bacup Road, Cliviger, and Tomlinson, of Fielding Street, Burnley, both deny robbing Kath Kendall of cash and cheques to the value of £83,840.11, on 26 May, last year.

Alderson also pleads not guilty to the alternative allegation of theft of monies to the sum of £1,608.81 and cheques worth £82,195.34. Tomlinson has admitted that charge.

John McClure, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Kendall and another employee of Lookers Vauxhall dealers in Blackburn were taking the daily takings to Barclays Bank. As they drew up outside the bank in a car, Mrs Kendall, who was in possession of the money was getting out with the bag in her hand, when somebody ran towards her. The person, a male, over six feet tall snatched the bag.

The Crown alleged Tomlinson took the bag by force in a struggle with Mrs Kendall, but Tomlinson said there was no force used.

Mr McClure said the defendant ran off into Dock Street, and got into a white van which drove off. After police were alerted, they began to follow the vehicle, driven by Alderson, which then turned into Knowsley Road and was stopped.

Some time later, a resident was with his dog in his garden, when the animal discovered a bag with cash to the tune of £1,600 and £82,000 worth of cheques inside it. He contacted the police.

Mr McClure said as the van was going past the house, followed by police, the bag containing the takings had been slung out into the man's garden so that when the defendants were stopped, they could say they did not have any money on them. Tomlinson had admitted the theft and Alderson was allegedly the getaway man. From beginning to end, the two of them were in it together.

Mrs Kendall told the jury as soon as she stepped on to the pavement from a car , the money was gone. The thief just "dashed," her and it was taken in the force from her hand.

She said it happened so quickly she did not not see the culprit's face, but knew it was a male wearing a baseball cap. Mrs Kendall said she shouted something, saw the man running away and then another man tackling him on the floor.

The complainant said she was shocked by what happened and had tried to put it to the back of her mind.

Proceeding