AROUND £37,000 was stolen during an armed lunchtime raid at Asda in Pilsworth.

Two masked men, brandishing handguns, threatened security guards as they delivered four cash bags to the superstore on Wednesday (August 18).

One of the Royal Mail workers was assaulted by the pair although he was not injured.

Grabbing the cash, the two men jumped into a red Bedford Rascal van which was later found on fire in nearby Borden Way, opposite the Roach public house.

No one from Asda or the police would comment on the amount taken in the raid which occurred at 1.35pm. It was initially thought that £100,000 had been stolen.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the robbery and anyone who may have seen the men abandon the van and setting it alight.

Detective Constable Steve Simcock, of Whitefield CID, said: "No one was injured in the robbery and none of the handguns were discharged.

"The robbery took place as the security vehicle pulled up outside the cash office section of the store to drop off a substantial amount of money."

Anyone who can assist the police with their inquiries should contact either Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

On Sunday, three thugs smashed their way into the same store and escaped with a large quantity of cigarettes.

The robbers broke a window in the foyer and then disabled the shutters with a trolley jack. Minutes later, they forced their way into a small cigarette store room.

Cleaning staff who were in the store at the time of the raid at 11.30pm did not approach the robbers who were wearing balaclavas.

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