Car clue to 'violent' masked gang

Armed robbers used the same car in two aggravated burglaries just an hour apart, say police.

In the first incident in Baguley on Wednesday, four masked men attacked a warehouse employee with a spade and a spanner before fleeing empty-handed.

Shortly afterwards, three masked men entered TV and Video Direct in Leigh and stole several flat screens TVs.

The men, described as violent, escaped in a waiting green Passat, believed to be the same vehicle used earlier.

Detective Constable Dave Milner from Hall Lane CID said: "The men involved in these robberies showed no hesitation in either threatening and using violence.

"It is more by luck than anything else that the man who was assaulted in the warehouse was not more seriously injured."

He warned: "It is vital that we catch these offenders before they strike again, as the next time an innocent person could be seriously injured, or possibly worse."