AN ATTEMPT was made to steal a cash machine from a bank that was hit by an armed robbery just weeks ago.

Police were seen at the RBS branch in Market Street, Little Lever, this morning after thieves attempted to steal the machine.

The attempt was unsuccessful but the bank has now been closed until further notice.

On Friday, May 19, an armed robber brandishing a gun targeted the bank while wearing a black motorbike helmet and sunglasses, waving his gun and shouting ‘armed robbery, give me your money’.

The man left the bank without any cash before riding away on a pushbike in the direction of Radcliffe.

The bank was forced to close for more than a week after the attempted robbery but has now suffered another setback.

There is no indication that the incidents are linked.

Councillor for Little Lever and Darcy Lever, Sean Hornby, was at the bank this morning and called for the community to rally round amid concerns about its future.

He said: “The police have been there this morning. There has been an attempt to take one of the cash machines out of the wall.

“I know people were worried after the last incident that they may close the bank permanently.

“A lot of people use the bank, it is a well used bank, it’s the only bank in Little Lever. I just hope that the community will rally round the bank. There was a lot of support when the attempted robbery happened and I hope the same happens again now.”

He added that following the attempted armed robbery, one of the members of staff suffered quite badly with the affects of the trauma but local people offered to support her. 

Cllr Hornby said that he hopes the bank will re-open later today.

A spokesman for RBS said: “Following an incident at our RBS Little Lever branch we are reviewing security measures to ensure that our staff and customers are safe. Our upmost priority is our customer and staff wellbeing,  and as a result the branch will remain closed whilst we undertake a full assessment of the situation.

"We apologise for this inconvenience and are working with our customers to minimise impact. For now customers can visit our nearest local RBS branches in Radcliffe, Farnworth, and Bolton”.