McDONALDS staff in Preston were left shaken following a terrifying ordeal at the hands of machete-wielding robbers.

Two men pounced on staff near to closing time at the burger bar on Deepdale Retail Park, off Blackpool Road, late on Monday evening (July 10).

One pulled out a machete while the other produced a carving knife ordering the staff to lie face down on the floor.

The robbers then burst in to a back office where staff were cashing up and stole, what police say, was a substantial amount of cash.

Both fled the scene in a waiting silver-coloured Vauxhall Nova.

The robber wielding the machete has been described as West Indian, 22-26-years-old, 6ft 2-4 ins tall, slim, clean shaven, and was wearing a dark grey baseball cap, green jacket and dark jeans.

Detectives describe his accomplice as being white, 22-26-years-old, 5ft 3ins, blond scruffy short hair, medium build and wearing a Nike baseball cap.

He attempted to hide his face by wearing a red, black and blue bandanna across his face and distinctive Nike Air Turbulence trainers.

A spokesman for McDonalds said a cash reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the two robbers was "a possibility" and that staff were co-operating fully with the police.

If you witnessed the robbery, or have any information which could leads to their arrest, contact Preston CID on (01772) 203203 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111.