A GANG of armed robbers fired at least one shot and forced terrified shoppers to run for cover before escaping with a large amount of cash from a busy supermarket.

Rawtenstall Asda on Bocholt Way was packed with customers when four or five masked men armed with a sawn-off shotgun and handguns burst into the store yesterday afternoon.

The raid was timed to coincide with the arrival of a Royal Mail Cash Co van bringing money to fill the shop's cash machines.

The masked raiders drove up in a red BMW and a red Ford pick-up, using them to block in the cash van.

Royal Mail staff were threatened and cash was handed over.

Two of the offenders, one carrying a sledgehammer, then went into the store threatening staff and shoppers.

One of the robbers fired a shot from a handgun at an office door and more money was stolen. Stunned staff and shoppers watched as the gang escaped through woods next to the shops. Witnesses reported seeing a Mitsubishi van in Fallbarn Road. The driver was an Asian man wearing dark glasses.

Police said the gang got in and the vehicle made off to Hall Carr and Holme Lane off Bury Road where they got into three others vehicles, a silver Honda Legend, a silver/grey Ford Mondeo and a grey ex-GPO van. The Mitsubishi was driven on to the car park of a nearby pub.

The other vehicles made off towards Edenfield. At about 4.40pm the Honda was found on the car park of the Eagle and Child at Shuttleworth. Det Insp Ron Griffiths said police were asking for witnesses to contact police on 01706 215242.

Armed police have been involved in the search and an incident room is being set up. Staff at the store have also been offered counselling.

Shopper Abdul Kahar said: "I was just doing my shopping when I heard a bang.

"At first I didn't know what was going on. Everyone turned round and there were two men banging on a door with a window in it.

"People started shouting and the staff told us to get out of the store by the back entrance. I saw two men and I think one of them had a gun.

"Other people said there were more men outside."

Police believe two vehicles abandoned on the car park, one of them a red Ford Sierra pickup, were used by the raiders.

Inspector Paul Robinson, of Rawtenstall police, said: "We know that at least one shot was fired but we are not sure whether that was inside or outside the store.

"No-one was injured in this incident but the Asda and Cash Co staff are all very shocked."

He added: "From eye-witness accounts we believe that three or four of the men were carrying firearms and we have a total of 35 officers examining both the scene of the incident and the abandoned vehicles to collect evidence."

All staff who were working at the time of the attack were kept inside Asda while they were interviewed by police.

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