ATTEMPTED armed robbers targeted a supermarket this afternoon before burning out a van in the car park and a car in a nearby street, witnesses say. 

There have been reports on social media of an attempted armed robbery and fire. 

A man working nearby spoke to The Bury Times and said he believed there had been an armed robbery in the cash store at the back of the Tesco. 

He said: "They've got in the car park with the van but it's taken too long, so they've burnt the van and gone through the ginnel."

He believed the possible robbers had got in another car which would be 'burnt elsewhere'. 

Bury Times:

He added: "It was really quick."

The staff member did not know whether any cash had been taken but said the store was still open and had not been affected. 

He said: "Most of the workers don't even know, it's just the back door."

A spokeswoman for the fire service confirmed crews were called 12.52pm to a van fire in the Tesco car park. 

Bury Times:

Three crews attended the van fire and it took them around an hour to get the blaze under control and make everything safe. 

Another witness said a car had blown up at the back of Brookshaw Street/ Clarence Close in Chesham.

She said: "Fire, engine and police still there."

The fire service spokeswoman added crews from Broughton and Ramsbottom attended a car fire in Chesham Road. 

She said firefighters were called at 12.56pm, adding the blaze had spread to a nearby fence panel. 

It took crew around an hour to make everything safe.

There were no casualties reported at either of the fires.

Mum shopping with daughter, 2, describes 'scary' moment van went up in flames 

Sayed Alawi, aged 37, from Bury, was sitting outside Tesco while crime scene investigation officers examined the burnt out van.

He said: "I've been sitting here waiting to walk across to pick up my children from St John With St Mark Primary School.

"It's usually quiet apart from the usual busy shoppers, you don't hear of much crime.

"I'm really shocked to see police officers here.

"It's shocking to hear there has been an armed robbery and a van set on fire.

"It's just not the sort of thing you're used to when coming past this Tesco."

Another shopper, who did not wish to be named, said: "I saw lots of police and a thick plume of grey smoke but I didn't know what had happened at the time.

"Police are still here so it's obviously serious."