A SECURITY guard is recovering after being violently attacked and robbed of thousands of pounds in cash outside a Blackpool supermarket.

The guard had been delivering a secure money box containing a large amount of cash to the Asda supermarket, Cherry Tree Road, Marton, when he was set upon by a male offender wearing a high visibility jacket and gillet with 'Security' printed on the back at around 9.45am on Monday morning .

After a brief struggle, during which the victim tried to hit the victim with the hefty box, the thief managed to grab the box and make his escape in the back of a waiting red or maroon Mazda 6 car - whose registration plate began MF04 - driven by a second offender.

The pair were last seen driving away from the supermarket towards Vicarage Road.

A Blackpool police spokesman, PC Geoff Duxbury said: "We would urge anyone has noticed either a discarded cash box or a vehicle matching the description of the one used in this robbery to get in touch immediately."

The attacking offender was described as a white male in his late 20s to early 30s, around 6ft tall, of stocky build with a round face, short dark hair which was shaved at the sides and an unshaven complexion.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Blackpool police on 01253 293933 quoting crime reference AM1568.