A GANG of raiders armed with shotguns, who held up a German lorry driver, could be from Pendle.

Detectives hunting the six robbers who stole a lorry containing 1,000 mobile phones today revealed they were investigating whether the gang could be from the area.

Police were alerted to the incident after a red Citroen C5 was found burnt out at Wycoller Country Park at about 6am on Thursday.

Officers carried out inquiries and found the Citroen was involved in an armed robbery in Milton Keynes at about 1am the same day.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "We are looking into the reasons why the car was abandoned there and we are working with the police in Lancashire to establish if the offenders came from that area." The gang pulled the driver out of the cab before assaulting him and a security guard.

They were shocked but not injured. The driver has returned to Germany.

Some of the robbers drove off in the wagon while the rest fled in the Citroen, registration KV02 JVR, which was also used to drive to the scene. The white lorry had the registration ROW QW331 and the silver trailer, containing Nokia 8800 phones, had the registration HST C77. Neither has been found.

Police, who did not know the exact value of the haul, now want to hear from anybody who may have been offered phones.

Sgt Tom Riley of Colne police appealed for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or who may have seen the car or the lorry in the area to come forward.

He said: "The car was used in an armed robbery in Milton Keynes where the offenders armed with shotguns have approached a lorry full of mobile phones.

"They have stolen the lorry and driven off in the Citroen.

"This was a serious offence and we would like to find out who was in the vehicle."

Anybody with information should contact police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.