POLICE today said they were invest-igating possible connections between a robbery in Whitworth and other raids across the region.

And they appealed for witnesses to the armed raid at Co-op Late Store, Thorney-lea.

The robbery took place at 10.30pm on Tuesday when two masked men one carrying a sword burst into the store demanding cash.

Detective Sergeant Martin Melvin today said: "We will be talking to detectives in the Greater Man-chester area in relation to a number of incidents that have happened in that area."

A similar incident took place in nearby Holcombe Brook last week.

The manager of the Whitworth conven-ience store today spoke about the incident.

Michael Taylor, who has only been at Late Store for a month, told how the two raiders, one wearing a balaclava and the other a hallowe'en mask, burst into the Thorneylea shop.

The 22-year-old said the robbers grabbed hold of a teenage shop assistant before demanding she hand over cash.

Mr Taylor, who said about £600 was stolen, said: "Two fellas came in with a samurai sword and a tiny axe.

"They were wearing all black and had black socks on their hands.

"One was wearing a balaclava and the other a white hallowe'en mask.

"They grabbed the arms of one of the girls and said go round and give us the till'.

"When I got here I was expecting chaos but amazingly they were fine.

"One of the girls went through some-thing like this a few years ago and dealt with everything."

The men are described as white. One was 6ft and the other 5ft 8ins.

Anyone with information should contact Rossendale CID on 01706 237442 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.