MOTORISTS were left traumatised after armed robbers tried to steal three cars in a terrifying hour-long car-jacking rampage in Pendle.

But police revealed they are baffled over the motive for the crime - which detectives said could easily have left somebody seriously injured or dead.

In the first incident two youths dressed in hooded tops hit a man with a baseball bat or iron bar at 4.14pm on Sunday to force him from his car outside Bargain Booze, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, driving off in it towards Nelson, where they collided with at least two other cars before crashing again and abandoning the silver Hyundai coupe in Fleet Street, Nelson.

Within minutes, they had hijacked another car, this time a red Mitsubishi Shogun, threatening the woman who had just got in it in Scotland Road.

This car was found abandoned in the street behind Wavelengths swimming pool at 5pm.

The pair had already tried to force a man out of his black Range Rover outside the Spar, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, just seconds before they took their first car.

Detectives have so far found no motive behind the attacks. They do not believe the pair were fleeing from any other crime scene, and they do not seem to have intended to take the cars to use in a crime.

Inspector Russ Proctor, of Nelson police, said: "This is extremely unusual. Things like this happen in Lancashire but we don't have it in East Lancashire. There hadn't been a robbery or any reason for them to need a vehicle so quickly. It's very strange."

Police are searching for the two men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, who spoke with local accents and wore hooded tops and jeans. One tried to hide his face with a scarf.

Detective Inspector Derek Jones added: "This whole incident is extremely unusual. Never before have I known offenders to target so many cars within such a short space of time, and even though it was getting quite dark it was still early and there would have been quite a few people around - we want these people to contact us and let us know what they saw."

"I want to appeal to anyone, even those in the criminal community who would not normally talk to police, to come forward if they know anything at all about this.

"These were very violent offences and the first car they stole was driven at high speed and very erratically - there could have been some very serious consequences, but thankfully no-one was injured.

"The victims are extremely traumatised by what has happened to them and anyone who can help us out could be eligible for a reward."

Police have forensically examined all of the cars involved and studied CCTV footage of the areas.

Anyone with information about the attacks can call DI Jones on 01282 472618, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.