AN armed gang robbed a newsagents in Little Hulton and may have committed two more similar robberies in the Wigan area almost immediately after.

Three men forced entry to a McColl’s newsagents in Hulton District Centre and threatened a staff member with a knife before taking cash and fleeing the scene in beige Mini, which was found burnt out nearby a short time later.

The three men, covering their faces with balaclavas, had smashed a front door window and walked into the shop.

Police believe the incident, which happened at 6.23am yesterday, is linked to two other armed robberies which took place later that morning.

Shortly after 7.30am, police were called to a shop on Warrington Road, Leigh, to reports of a robbery.

Three men forced entry to the shop and threatened a staff member with a knife before taking a safe and fleeing the scene in a black VW Passat.

And shortly before 7am, police were called to a shop in Manchester Road, Astley, to reports of a robbery.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident numbers 322 for the Little Hulton incident, 340 for the Leigh one or 348 for Astley — all from February 27.