Armed gang attack shop assistants

Staff at a shop in Greater Manchester are recovering after four men armed with a samurai sword and a meat cleaver attacked them during a raid.

The three workers were closing up the Co-op on Vicarage Lane, Bowdon, when the masked men struck on Friday night.

Two robbers grabbed cigarettes and cash from behind the counter while the other men took the staff into the back, assaulted them and demanded more money.

The gang then drove off towards Dunham Road in a dark-coloured VW Golf.

All three workers sustained minor facial injuries in the robbery and one was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack, which happened at about 2200 BST.

The offenders, who were all wearing balaclavas, are described as white, aged in their late teens and about 5ft 10ins (1.77m) tall.