TWO men are continuing to be questioned over the attempted murder of a police officer during an armed robbery near Preston.

PC Katie Johnson, 29, a dog handler with Lancashire Police, suffered 12 pellet wounds to her leg as she tried to foil a raid at a pub near Preston.

Her colleague PC Ian Tinsley was also threatened by one of the gunmen.

Four members of staff at the Hospital Inn, Bamber Bridge, were forced to hand over a five-figure sum in cash.

A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested shortly after the incident, while a 37-year-old man, from Manchester, was arrested later by a nearby railway line.

Detectives were given a further 36 hours to question the men before they have to decide whether to charge them on Thursday evening.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who is leading the inquiry, made a renewed appeal for information about a silver Peugeot 406 car, registration number V778 HOL, which was parked close to the scene near a row of shops in Gregson Lane.

He said: "I would ask anyone who was around that area who may have spotted this car to contact us. Someone may have taken a stroll to pick up a newspaper or they may have been walking their dog. We really are keen to speak to people who could help."

Police also confirmed that both officers involved and the staff at the pub were recovering well from their ordeal.