TWO raiders held up a Burnley funeral home at gunpoint.

The men, armed with a handgun, walked into Co-operative Funeral Services, Colne Road, before threatening a woman worker and escaping with a small amount of cash.

The woman was not hurt but was left traumatised by the raid.

The offenders used the front door which opens on to Colne Road, one of the main gateways to the town, in the robbery which happened at about 10.20am yesterday.

The woman was uninjured.

Surprised neighbours today spoke of their shock at the raid taking place on their doorstep.

And police said they were trying to establish why the funeral home was targeted.

Detective Sergeant Graham Gallagher said: "This was a nasty incident which has left the woman involved very distressed.

"It is imperative that we catch the two men responsible as quickly as possible.

"If anyone witnessed the incident, recognises the descriptions or has seen anything suspicious around the premises concerned then we would very much like to hear from them."

Following the robbery the funeral parlour, opened by former Burnley mayor, Councillor Pat Bennett in 1990, was sealed off and officers stood guard while forensic teams gathered evidence.

Loose change was strewn across the floor of an office.

Mother-of-seven Azra Idrea, 37, who lives opposite the scene, said: "It is quite shocking. You do not expect an armed robbery to take place.

"It is a strange choice you would expect it them to target a bank or something."

Her neighbour Yunis Khan, 69, added: "I was making a cup of tea at the time and did not see anything.

"I am surprised at it. You would not expect it because it is on the main road."

Funeral home spokes-woman Ruth Chadwick said it was rare for funeral homes to be held up.

She added: "I can confirm an armed robbery did take place but luckily none of the staff were injured.

"We are co-operating fully with the police but we are not prepared to say anything further on the matter."

Both raiders were Asian, aged between 20-30, 5ft 9ins to 6ft, of average build and clean shaven.

One had short hair squared off at the back of the neck and was wearing a dark, waist length jacket, dark trousers and dark gloves.

The other was wearing a white peaked baseball cap, a dark zip up jacket and dark trousers.

Anybody with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.