GUNS were stolen from a farmhouse in a 'shockingly violent' robbery.

Police have now released images of the seven firearms similar to those stolen in the raid in Adlington.

Officers were called at 9.40pm last Friday after a group of three or four men wearing balaclavas forced their way into a farmhouse off a private road.

The occupant, a 50 year-old man, was tied up and threatened with a shotgun and a machete while the offenders made demands for money and access to the owner’s firearms.

A shotgun was fired during the incident — but no one was hurt.

Seven firearms were taken from a gun cabinet along with some ammunition and cash.

The offenders made off in the owner’s maroon Land Rover Discovery which was later found abandoned in Thirlmere Road, Blackrod.

Det Insp Jo Keay said: “The level of violence shown during this robbery was frankly shocking and it is only by chance that no one was seriously hurt.

“We believe that this was a targeted robbery and that the offenders knew that there were guns in the house.

“Thankfully incidents like this are rare and I would like to reassure the public that we have a dedicated team of officers working on this investigation. We are determined to find the men responsible and the firearms that they took but we need the public’s help to do that so I would urge anyone with any information to contact us.”

Anyone with information can call Lancashire Police on 101 quoting incident reference 1363 of November 13th. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

The Bolton News:

A Beretta Ee Ll Shotgun similar to one stolen in the raid