THREE terrified women were held at gunpoint during a raid on a building society.

The attacker got away with a "substantial" five figure sum from the Whalley office yesterday.

Police believe he may be responsible for several similar raids across the county, including one in Padiham, and others as far away as Cumbria and Norwich.

Two female staff at the Black Horse Agency and Halifax Building Society office in King Street were confronted by a man at around 1.30pm.

He produced a white plastic carrier bag and a gun before demanding cash from behind the counter and the safe.

A female customer was locked in a back room with the staff before the man escaped.

Acting Detective Inspector Phil Vernon of Colne CID said:" Nobody was harmed during the attack but we have every reason to believe that the gun was real."

The attacker was 6ft 1ins to 6ft 3ins tall and stocky, with a prominent beer belly.

He had a mole on the right side of his face and was wearing a blue fleece jacket and a black woolly hat."

DI Vernon added: "We are urging local offices to tighten their own security as we are convinced he will strike again."

Anyone with information about the raid can contact police at Colne on 01282 863161.

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