Appeal after armed robbery at Lancashire shop

The incident happened at around 8.40pm on August 8 at the Spar store on Thwaites Road in Oswaldtwistle.

Police say that two men entered the store brandishing weapons, believed to have been a hand gun and the other a sword of some kind, before making threats towards staff.

The offenders, both wearing neck coverings pulled over the lower halves of their faces, then jumped over the counter before emptying two tills of around £300 in cash and taking a small quantity of cigarettes.

They made off, possibly in a vehicle which was seen being driven suspiciously in the area of the shop in the moments before the incident occurred.

Detectives would now like to speak to anyone with information about the incident, and specifically would like to trace the vehicle in the CCTV image, which was possibly used to help the offenders get away. It is described as an older-style Audi A3, silver in colour, with colour-coded wing mirrors and blacked-out rear windows.

The offenders are described as being aged in their early 20s and having Liverpudlian accents.

DC Angela Verity, of Hyndburn Police, said: “These men have left the two staff members extremely shaken and we are determined to locate them.

“We would now like to hear from anyone with information about the incident, and in particular would like to trace the vehicle in the CCTV image which may have been used to help the offenders get away from the scene.

“If you recognise this car, or if you come across it, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“We would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything we can to find those responsible and in the meantime will have increased visible patrols in the area.”

Anybody with information should contact police on 101, quoting log number 1471 of today (August 8).