DETECTIVES are hunting two armed men who botched a raid on a Securicor van.

They struck seconds after one of the guards had left the vehicle with a quantity of cash and had gone into Barclays Bank on Bury New Road, Prestwich.

Police say the two masked men, carrying a silver handgun and a shotgun with a light-coloured stock, approached the van and banged on the side.

However, the driver inside triggered a siren and a taped "attack, attack" message before the raiders panicked and fled.

Both sprinted down a service road to the Longfield Centre and drove off in a red Peugeot saloon car, registration F427 LVM.

The vehicle, earlier reported stolen from Salford, was found abandoned at the junction of Glebelands Road and Poppythorn Lane in Prestwich.

Detectives are anxious to talk to anyone who saw the thugs before or after the incident, which happened at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

One man was 5ft 10in tall, thick set and wearing a blue jumper and balaclava. The jumper had white colouring on the bottom.

The second, also wearing a balaclava, was 5ft 8in tall.

Det Insp Keith Dillon said: "Both men had masks on, but people may have seen them just before.

"When they banged on the side of the Securicor van, the driver set off the alarm and both aborted the raid."

Detectives want to determine whether the duo switched cars after abandoning the Peugeot. Anyone with information should call Bury police on 856 8157 or freephone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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