Daylight robbery

SEALED off . . . police probe the scene yesterday

Staff and customers shocked at morning raid

ARMED raiders threatened frightened staff and bundled a shaken elderly couple to the ground at a busy building society yesterday.

Three masked men burst into the Halifax on High Street, Lees, at 10.20am.

The balaclava-clad trio, armed with a baseball bat and an axe, knocked over a shocked elderly couple — then threw a brick which shattered glass at the cashiers’ desk. The robbers threatened staff and stole a substantial amount of cash before making off towards Oldham in a grey 2003 Honda Accord. The elderly couple emerged uninjured.

Detective Constable Keith Talbot said: “Though nobody was hurt in this attack, staff and customers were left badly shaken and a substantial amount of cash was stolen.

The Honda was later found abandoned in West Street, Lees.

“At this stage we are appealing for witnesses not only to the robbery, but also to people in the Lees area who may have seen the car being driven yesterday or just before it was abandoned.

“People may, for example, have seen the robbers leaving the Honda and getting into another car.

“I would appeal to anyone to get in touch.”

Inquiries later revealed the car had been stolen from the Chorlton area.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161-856 8951, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.