POLICE divers painstakingly searched the Leeds-Liverpool canal yesterday in a bid to find the weapon used by armed raiders who robbed Blackburn's B & Q superstore.

Lancashire police's underwater search team were called in after a member of the public saw two men fitting a description of the offenders on the canal towpath, which runs nearby the store, shortly after the robbery at its Whitebirk Drive premises at 7.15am on Tuesday. Det Insp Mark Gray, who is leading the investigation into the robbery, said: "We are searching for anything relating to the offence, whether that be weapons or property belonging to the offenders."

He said a member of the public saw two men heading towards Rishton on the canal towpath at around 8.30am, and he urged anyone who was on the canal between 7am and 9am to contact police. DI Gray added that there was also a number of sightings of a vehicle travelling at speed in the Whitebirk Drive and Brownhill Drive area on the morning of the robbery.

He said: "We are asking anybody who was around at that time and may have seen a car travelling at speed or recklessly if they have any information which would be helpful to the enquiry."

DI Gray said the offenders got away with a "significant" amount of cash, which was all in coins and would be difficult for the offenders to dispose of.

He said: "We would also like to know about anyone trying to do a transaction with a significant amount of coins."

Two terrified members of staff were attacked by the balaclava-clad men during the robbery, leaving one of the staff with minor injuries.

The two offenders were described as Asian males, 5ft 10in tall and of stocky build, wearing dark clothing, and carrying a dark holdall.

Anyone with information is asked to ring 01254 51212, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.