ROBBERS threatened a garage owner with a baseball bat then fled in a stolen car.

One man restrained the 55-year-old owner in the kiosk of the Royal Oak Garage, on the A59 Longsight Road, Clayton-le-Dale, while the other smashed open the till with the bat.

Police said the men escaped with £10, and about 20 packets of cigarettes at 2pm on Sunday. They drove off in a red Suburu Impreza registration L993 HEN, stolen that morning from Manchester.

The car was found half an hour later in the Botany Brow area of Chorley.

The first man is described as slim, white, 5'10" tall, in his late teens or early twenties. He had blond crew cut hair and was wearing navy track suit bottoms with a white stripe and a grey top.

The second man was white, slim to medium build, 5'7" tall, in his early twenties. He had black, short, straight hair and was wearing blue trousers.

Police believe they drove south along the M6 and M61 between 2pm and 2.30pm. They are appealing for witnesses who saw them or the car to call Clitheroe police on 01200 443344.

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