POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a gang of armed robbers stole a substantial quantity of cash from a bank in Middleton.

A gang of four men, pulled up outside the Halifax in Middleton Gardens in a black BMW at 9.40am on Thursday, January 17.

Three of them, who were wearing balaclavas and armed with a lump hammer and a machete, went into the bank.

The gang demanded cash and one of the robbers jumped over the counter. The others grabbed a cash box and they all fled.

As the getaway car drove away, it collided with a parked van. It was later found burnt out and the men jumped into another car, a stolen Volvo, and that was later found burnt out in Bury.

The offenders are described as of medium build and all between 5ft 6in tall and 6ft tall.

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Matthews, of Rochdale CID said: "Although nobody was injured, this was a frightening ordeal for anyone who was in that bank.

"I would appeal to anyone with any information to contact us to help bring these dangerous people to justice.”

Anyone with any information should call Middleton police on 0161 856 8754 or Crimestoppers, in confidence on 0800 555 111.