A BANK in Leyland has been raided by armed robbers for teh second time in 18 months.

Police are now hunting the men who robbed the Lloyds TSB branch, Chapel Brow, escaping with "a substantial" amount of cash.

They are believed to have gone on to the M6 after switching getaway cars somewhere between Moss Lane, in the town, and the motorway. Police are calling for anyone with information to come forward.

The drama unfolded at about 5.30pm on Friday, November 19, when two masked men burst into the bank.

One was wielding a double barrelled sawn-off shotgun, and the other a sledgehammer. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Police said after threatening staff and customers at the bank with the gun the second raider smashed through security glass with the sledgehammer.

They then took what police are describing as a substantial sum of money from the bank before escaping in a silver hatchback driven by a third offender.

The attack comes nearly two years after the same branch was targeted in a similar raid.

That time £5,500 was snatched after shots were fired. No one was injured. A Liverpool man has since been jailed for life for the raid, and 13 other bank robberies and two attempted robberies, across the country.

Detective Sergeant John Cass, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have spoken to a number of the witnesses who were inside the bank.

"It was quite a terrifying ordeal, not least for the staff who were unfortunate enough to have experienced it before.

"We have a number of clues and leads that we are following but I would ask anyone with information to come forward, even if they think the information is already known or insignificant.

"Quite often it is that small bit that can be crucial in solving a crime."

Both robbers were wearing dark hooded jackets and balaclavas, and carrying holdalls. One was wearing green trousers and the other dark track suit bottoms with stripes down the side.

Anyone with information should call Leyland Police on 01772 415847.