ARMED raiders burst into a Darwen store and threatened staff before running off with £1,000.

Two shop assistants were today recovering at home after being threatened by the gang of men brandishing screwdrivers.

The women were cashing up in a back room at the Co-op store in Blackburn Road, on Wednesday, shortly after 10pm, when three men burst through the back door wearing hoods and scarves around their faces.

All three were armed with screwdrivers which they used to threaten the shop assistants while demanding money.

They then ran off through the front door and along the back street, which runs from Earnsdale Road to Falcon Avenue.

CID officers from Darwen have appealed for information about the men and are hoping to find out where they escaped to.

Det Con Mark Oates said: "They threa-tened the members of staff and made them hand over the money they had.

Then the raiders demanded they give them access to the safe.

"They got away with around £1,000 and some other items.

"We believe they left carrying the things in a cream material sack.

"We don't know if they made off on foot or if they had a vehicle in the alleyway.

"If anyone saw anything in that area we would like to hear from them.

"These men were all wearing dark clothing and hoods and had their scarves around their faces to try to conceal their identity.

"Neither of the women was hurt but they are shaken up by their terrifying ordeal."

Two of the men were described as white and in their mid 20s.

The third man was of mixed race.

The shop was open as normal yesterday, but the staff involved were given time off to recover.

Staff at the Co-op declined to comment on the incident.