A SECURITY guard was threatened with an axe and a cash box was stolen during a night time raid in Atherton town centre.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the armed robbery on a cash in transit van outside Abbey National in Atherton on Tuesday.

At around 9.45pm the van pulled up outside the Market Street branch and a guard got out when a blue Ford Focus pulled up nearby. At least three men in balaclavas got out, one armed with an axe. They threatened the guard, stole a cash box, then sped off in a Ford Focus later found burnt out on Farnham Close in Leigh.

The car was taken away for forensic examination.

Police say nobody was injured during the incident.

Witnesses should contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7252 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.