A BANK worker was injured when she was punched in the face during a robbery.

Two men wearing balaclavas stormed into Santander, on the corner of in Lee Lane and Winter Hey Lane in Horwich, at 11.30am this morning and demanded staff hand over cash.

A woman, said by police to be a bank clerk, was punched in the face, leaving her with an injured nose.

Police said cash is thought to have been taken in the robbery and that no arrests have yet been made.

Witnesses said money was strewn all over the ground as the robbers fled.

The bank was shut while police investigated the raid this afternoon.

Julie Roberts, aged 63, said: “I saw money on the floor outside the bank and did not know what was happening - then I saw two men with their faces covered running out of Horwich in the direction of Horwich Leisure Centre.

"I'm not sure if someone outside the bank was knocked over and dropped money or whether the men dropped cash as they left. A man was giving chase to them - he was very brave.”

Louise Woolham, from Horwich, said: “I was on Lee Lane and heard the police. I was shocked about what happened, it’s only a small area so it’s unbelievable.

"I heard that a lady in the shop had been hit. I'm surprised that it happened when it did as the lane was very busy at that time. There were a lot of police. I think they went towards Halliwell.”

A Santander spokesman said: “We can confirm an incident took place at the Horwich Agency Santander branch this morning and we are assisting the police with their enquiries.

"Unfortunately, a member of the agency staff was injured during the incident and we wish her a speedy recovery.”

She said the branch was an agency branch, which means its staff are not employed by Santander and it is not run by the firm.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.