POLICE officers have revealed a new lead in the hunt for an armed gang who stole nearly £2million from a Royal Mail sorting office in Preston.

A gang of armed robbers carried out the daring raid on the Royal Mail Centre, Pitman Way, Fulwood, at around 9.45pm, on Friday.

After getting in through a perimeter fence, and using ramps to jump a security barrier, they rammed their way into a secure part of the depot.

Preston police have images from a CCTV camera at the depot to help them with their investigation, and senior officers have revealed the ramps may be a clue to the identity of the gang.

Two of the offenders are seen on CCTV footage to carry the two wooden ramps onto the site and place them against a special ram raid barrier.

Detective Inspector Tony Bolton said: "We believe these ramps to be a significant part of the investigation. We are appealing for anyone who has seen these ramps or indeed anyone who knows who made them to contact the police or Crimestoppers."

Since the raid the Royal Mail have denied reports their security cameras were out of order.

A spokesman said: "They were all working. None of the cameras were faulty. As a result of what the police have said we are looking at whether they were programmed in the most appropriate way."

The men, armed with guns and wearing balaclavas, first used a Vauxhall Corsa stolen from Manchester as a battering ram.

They fled to the nearby Asda supermarket in a blue Ford van, which they set alight with thousands of pounds left inside.

They were last seen in Midgery Lane, heading toward the M6 in a light coloured H-reg van.

Police say nobody was hurt in the raid, but are warning people the robbers could be dangerous. The Royal Mail has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to a prosecution.

Detective Inspector Tony Bolton, of Preston police, said: "We are keen for anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity to come forward. It does appear to be a very well planned and organised job.

"There was some meticulous planning involved to pull it off, and it may have been that the people who committed the robbery have visited the Preston area before."

Preston police are working with the Royal Mail to look at ways of tracing the bank notes.

Anybody with information should call Preston police on 203203, or CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111.