Police are appealing for witnesses after two masked men threatened guards with a sledgehammer during a cash-in transit robbery in Accrington last night.

The incident took place at 8.40pm when two G4S guards were loading the ATM machines at the Santander Bank on Union Street.

The guards were then approached by two men in dark clothing and balaclavas who smashed through the bank’s glass doors and threatened them with a sledgehammer before making off with two cash cassettes.

The men are then believed to have made off in a dark coloured hatchback car along Union Street towards Blackburn Road with an undisclosed sum of money.

Detective Sergeant Ian Procter from Accrington CID said no one was injured.

He said: “An investigation is underway but I would appeal to anybody that witnessed this robbery or saw any persons or vehicles acting suspiciously in the area to contact police.

“The bank is centrally located so I’d also like to speak with anybody who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the bank either on foot or in a vehicle in the days leading up to the robbery.

“A large number of enquiries are underway but I’d appeal to anybody with any information about this offence to come forward and contact Lancashire Police on 101.”