MASKED robbers attacked a security guard during a raid on a Blackburn town centre bank today.

Eyewitnesses said the robbery took place as a security van pulled up outside the HSBC in Church Street, just before 11.30am.

It is believed one of the security staff was approached by a balaclava-clad robber who pushed him inside the bank.

It is believed a quantity of cash was taken in the raid.

The robber and an accomplice made their escape in a dark coloured Vauxhall Astra, which it is thought was being driven by a third man.

The car drove off through a series of red lights, through the town centre, in the direction of Accrington.

Mohammed Iqbal, of Palmer Road, Blackburn, was in the bank at the time.

He said: "I saw a man come into the bank through the doors and push the security guard to the floor.

"I heard him shout 'Give me that' and then I saw them run off. He was armed with an axe.

"It left us very shaken and quite scared."

One female eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said she believed that the Securicor guard had been hit, possibly with an axe.

She said: "I saw a couple of guys with balaclavas on jumping into an Astra, I thought, 'they have robbed the bank' but then realised there was a Securicor van there.

"Then they drove through three red lights. The two guys got in at top speed. They reversed out. There was a crowd of people and they just sped off through the lights.

"But some people who saw it said they knocked the Securicor guy to the ground and hit him with an axe."

A second female witness, who was shopping at the time, said: "We saw two Asian looking men speed off in a dark coloured car. It nearly ran us over and scared us to death.

"It screeched into the main road and dodged all the traffic."

It is believed that the men may have been armed with weapons, although police were unable to confirm what they were.

Police have cordoned off the scene and began interviewing witnesses as forensic teams were called to the scene.

A police spokeswoman said: "We had a report of a robbery at the HSBC bank at 11.29am, although at this point we are not sure if it was successful.

"We know two men wearing balaclavas approached a security van outside the bank and pushed one of the guards inside.

"They then made off in a Vauxhall Astra towards Accrington."

Inspector Graham Keyte said: "We can confirm that there have been no injuries but at this moment we are still getting information to establish what has gone on. I can't confirm whether any weapons were used or whether any money was stolen."

HSBC and Securicor said they were unable to comment.