A LORRY driver has been robbed by men wielding a metal bar on the Altham Industrial Estate.

Police are appealing for information after the thieves took thousands of pounds of computer equipment from the vehicle.

The 56-year-old driver, from Hull, woke around 2.25am last Friday to find four men stealing the equipment from the back of his truck.

One of the robbers threatened the driver with a metal bar. He is described as white, around 6ft tall with short brown hair and a beard.

He had three accomplices, two of whom are described as white and about 5ft 7ins tall.

The fourth man was a 19-to-20-year-old Asian, around 5ft 11ins tall.

Inspector Jo Lightbrown of Accrington CID said: "This is a particularly nasty incident and the driver was lucky not to be hurt.

"I would appeal to anyone who has information or witnessed suspicious behaviour to come forward."

The men escaped with two pallet loads of 19-inch Samsung computer screens.

Inspector Lightbrown added: "We are keen to speak to anyone who might have been asked to buy one of these screens or knows where they are stored."

The offenders left the scene in a white Mercedes Sprinter van which police believe was cloned.

Inspector Lightbrown added: "A short time afterwards, a similar vehicle was seen by a milkman to be in convoy with a red Fiat Brava acting suspiciously on the A674 at Withnell.

"The occupant of the van made a call from a phone box and then both vehicles made off, with no further sightings."

Anyone with information should call police on 353743 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.