MASKED robbers threatened a shop worker with a crowbar before dragging her into the back of the store and forcing her to open a safe to take money from it.

Four men entered the Heron Foods store on The Square in Tyldelsey last night, Thursday, at 7.45pm before grabbing a 53-year-old woman staff member and taking her into the back office.

After getting her to open the safe, they took a quantity of cash before leaving the store and fleeing the scene in a silver Audi A5, which was waiting outside.

The car drove off in the direction of Elliott Street where it drove up the one-way road in the wrong direction before going down Astley Street in Tyldesley.

All the suspects were wearing dark clothing.

DC Lynsey Watson-Perry, based at Leigh, said: “There were two women working in the store when these criminals burst in and they were both pretty frightened and shook up by what happened.

“It is now important that we hear from anyone who may have seen or heard something suspicious around the time of this robbery.”

If you have any information contact the police on 101, 0161 856 67292, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.