Bank workers held hostage in raid

Seven bank workers were tied up and held hostage by armed robbers at a branch of Lloyds TSB in Lancashire.

The staff were confronted by two robbers when they arrived for work at the bank on Poulton Street in Kirkham near Preston on Friday morning.

Police said the robbers, one of whom was thought to have been brandishing a sawn-off shotgun, stole a substantial amount of money from the safe.

The men then left in a maroon-coloured car. No-one was injured in the robbery.

The car, a Vauxhall Vectra registration V840 MUA , was later found abandoned in nearby Wesham.

Police said it was unclear what time the robbers had entered the bank, but they held the staff hostage for about an hour.

Detectives from Lancashire Police were interviewing bank staff and other witnesses on Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crimestoppers.