FOUR masked men threatened two security guards in Bury with a samurai sword and threatened to kill them if they did not hand over cash.

A van pulled up at the Nimra petrol station on Bolton Road (A58) at around 2.45pm on Monday to make a delivery to the Nationwide cash machine on the forecourt. Two security guards made their way to the dispenser while the third guard remained inside the van. The two guards were confronted by four men in balaclavas, armed with a small samurai sword and wooden staves.

The robbers stole a number of containers which held a substantial amount of cash before running off towards the back of the garage.

They ran to the rear of some terrace houses where they got into a car which was being driven by a fifth offender.

The vehicle, which has been described as a silver/grey Rover type vehicle, then drove onto Ainsworth Road towards Bolton Road.

Det Sgt Derek Banford of Bury CID said: "The offenders were particularly violent in their threats to harm the security guards and although they were not injured in any way, they are all suffering from shock."

"I am appealing to anyone who saw the car in the area before or after the robbery to get in touch."