A GANG of crooks fled empty handed after ransacking a store during an attempted robbery.

The would-be thieves, who are thought to be of eastern European origin, struck at Costcutter in Little Lever.

Up to seven men went into the store and began asking four members of staff questions.

It is thought that, while staff were distracted, one of the gang sneaked into a storeroom and began searching for cash and valuables.

When manager Amrat Kanji, aged 29, became suspicious and tried to investigate, he was grabbed in a "bear hug" and became involved in a scuffle before the gang fled, throwing tins of peas and baked beans as they escaped. Mr Kanji said: "They came in and started asking lots of stupid questions to all of my staff.

"One of them said that he needed help to choose a birthday card because his English wasn't very good, although it seemed fine to me, and that's when I started to become suspicious.

"I was going to the back of the shop to make sure there was nobody in there and one of the men grabbed me in a bear hug.

"There was a struggle and I managed to get away from him and go in to the storeroom and lock the door behind me.

"They didn't take anything. I'm just glad all my staff are okay."

Police say they are now examining links between the attempted robbery, which happened at 11.50am on Wednesday, and other thefts where shop staff have been distracted across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Last month, a group of eight men and women distracted the owner of Kearsley News and Wines in Manchester Road, Kearsley, before sneaking through the shop and in to his home where they stole cash and jewellery worth £6,500.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Bolton CID on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.