POLICE today appealed for witnesses who may have seen a gun gang making their getaway from a £20,000 supermarket robbery.

Three men wearing stocking masks burst into Kwik Save in Bolton Road, Blackburn.

One man was carrying a gun and another threatened the workers with the hammer before they escaped with the day's takings.

Police have revealed they are looking at links with a raid on the same supermarket 12 months ago.

About ten staff were getting ready to close the supermarket shortly before 8pm on Friday when the three robbers forced open the doors.

The assistant manager was then forced to open the safe at gunpoint and the frightened workers were locked in a storeroom.

They made off in a stolen blue Vauxhall Cavalier and abandoned it in nearby Hollin Bridge Street just 100 yards away. They then ran off towards Hamilton Street.

The G-registered Cavalier had been stolen on Thursday from the Wigan area.

Detective Inspector Tim Jacques, of Blackburn CID, said: "This must have been a very frightening experience for the staff."

The robbers are all thought to be in their 20s. Two of them were white and the third black, andall spoke with Liverpool accents.

Det Sgt Paul Murphy, of Blackburn CID, said the first man was in his early 20s, about 6ft 4ins tall and of muscular build. He was wearing a dark jacket and jeans and carrying a claw hammer.

The gun man was about 5ft 10ins tall and stocky, with his hair in dreadlocks. He was also wearing a dark jacket and carrying a gun.

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