POLICE hunting a gang of armed robbers who stole more than £50,000 from outside a store today revealed they believe the raiders were not from this area.

Detectives said the gang who robbed a Securicor van outside the Spar shop in Brunshaw Road, Burnley, were from outside of Lancashire.

The guards were delivering money to a cash machine at about 2pm on Tuesday, when three raiders wearing ski masks and carrying a machete and baseball bat struck.

Police think the gang either followed the large blue van through the town or were lying in wait ready to pounce after staking out the shop and deliveries to it for weeks beforehand.

Nobody was hurt in the attack and the robbers sped off in a grey Volkswagen Golf GTI driven by a fourth offender which had its manufacturers' badges missing. It was found abandoned by houses on the Ridge Row side of Brunshaw Road, Worsthorne.

Detective Sergeant Derek Jones, of Burnley CID said the offenders all white males aged between 20 and 40 then made off in a white or cream car and the boxes containing the cash are still outstanding.

He said: "So far all our inquiries have led us to outside of Lancashire.

"The vehicle travelled through Burnley town centre between 1pm and 2pm and it is possible the offenders could have followed the van.

"There is also the possibility they sat waiting in the vicinity of the Spar for the van to arrive having visited the location before to see the cash machine being loaded and observing the security procedures.

"It is possible the men could have visited a cafe, pub or restaurant prior to committing the offence and I would ask anybody who remembers four men visiting an establishment to contact the police because they may have vital information to help us catch these offenders."

Securicor are offering a 'substantial' reward for information leading to the robbers' capture. Anyone with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.