THIEVES escaped with up to £20,000 in cash after raiding a Securicor van on Wednesday.

The van with its three man crew was filling up a cash machine at the Esso filling station on Blackpool Road, near to the Deepdale Retail Park.

A guard was transferring a container filled with £15,000 to £20,000 when a man wrestled it from his hands and ran to a waiting car.

The Maroon Ford Orion was driven off, but was involved in a road accident just yards away, and the thieves abandoned it and ran into a nearby housing estate.

Police searched the area and are now asking for anyone with any information to contact them.

The first thief was of mixed race, 18 to 20 years old, 5ft 9ins tall wearing dark clothing and headwear. The second was white, 18 to 20 years old, 5ft 9ins tall, with a slim build and was wearing black clothes and a bobble hat.

Anybody with information should call Preston police on 01772 203203 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.