Raiders carry out armed robbery at Asda, Bolton Road, Atherton, before holding up elderly woman's car at Atherton Baptist Church

The two men, who had a machete and what is believed to have been a handgun, carried out the robbery at Asda, in Bolton Road, Atherton.

They broke into the store using a crowbar just after 7pm on Sunday night, before pointing the gun at a shop worker as they filled a bag with cigarettes.

But the staff member moved out of their way and was not injured.

The raiders then fled along Bolton Road in a dark coloured Vauxhall Vectra before crashing into another car in High Street.

A 65-year-old woman, who was in the second car, was treated at the scene by paramedics for shock.

The pair fled on foot towards Atherton Baptist Church, in Tyldesley Road, where they held up a red Ford Fiesta at gunpoint before dragging a 75-year-old woman from the car.

They then made off towards Hindley in the vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Rigby, of Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan borough condemned the robbers' 'brutal' tactics.

He said: “These men demonstrated an inexcusable level of violence all for stealing cigarettes.

“Their use of weapons was brutal and their actions have left a number of people extremely shaken and concerned for their safety.

“We will not tolerate members of our community being targeted in this way and we are appealing for anyone who may have any information that could assist our investigation to please come forward.”

One man was described as white and of stocky build.

He was wearing a dark blue jacket with the hood up and black jogging bottoms, black and white trainers and gloves.

The second man was also described as white and of stocky build. He was wearing a brown jacket with brown trousers and gloves.

Both men wore balaclavas.

Asda are helping police with their attempts to trace the pair.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident at our Atherton store and we are assisting the police with their inquiries.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 1994 of 19/11/2017.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.