MEMBERS of the public are being urged to shop anyone who has suspiciously started spending large amounts of cash following a bank robbery.

Detective Inspector Simon Giles made the appeal after revealing the robbers who raided the HSBC Bank, in Church Street, Blackburn, had stolen a substantial amount of cash, amounting to thousands of pounds.

He said he was also awaiting the report from the forensic officers who examined a stolen Vauxhall Astra, found abandoned in Oxford Close, which is believed to have been used in the robbery.

Mr Giles added: "A large amount of money has gone into circulation and someone will know of someone who is suddenly spending a lot of money.

"I appeal for them to get in touch with us immediately."

Two robbers raided the bank on Tuesday morning while a getaway driver waited outside in the Astra.

A Securicor guard was making a delivery to the bank when he was attacked from behind and forced to the floor.

Eye witnesses reported seeing the guard hit over the head with an axe, his helmet saving him from injury.

The robbers then made off with the transit box containing the cash.

Securicor have offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of those responsible for the robbery.

Police recovered the Astra, which had been stolen from Liverpool a fortnight before the raid, on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Giles said there had been a good response from the public and that officers were still trawling through CCTV footage from the town centre.

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn CID on 01254 353569 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.