A BAKERY chain has shut after an armed robbery at its headquarters.

The owners decided to close the four shops after two members of staff were tied up and held hostage at knifepoint at the main bakery in Tyldesley.

One of the shops affected is Prices Bakers in Church Street, Westhoughton, where staff were told their shop was shutting down following the incident last Thursday evening.

Prices is one of four bakeries owned by Dawsons Bakers & Confectioners Ltd. It is understood workers at the bakeries in Tyldesley, Atherton and Hindley have also been told not to go to work.

A source who asked not to be named, said the closures had come as result of the robbery at the bakery in Shuttle Street.

He said: "There was an armed hold-up and two of the lads were taken hostage and tied up. They were masked men with knives.

"The owners don't want to put anyone else at risk and they have made the decision to shut."

One of the owners of Dawsons, June Rushby, said they had been shocked by the robbery, in which a motorbike and a company van were stolen.

Mrs Rushby said: "The robbery has shaken us. We're so sorry for the staff but we can't continue."

Altrincham-based licensed insolvency practitioners Lines Henry is managing the winding up of the bakery company.

Neil Henry, of the firm, said around 30 members of staff will lose their jobs as a result of the company closing. He added the robbery had been the final straw for the company, which had been struggling.

Mr Henry said: "The owners got in touch with me on Monday. I understand it had closed over the weekend following a robbery at the Tyldesley shop on Thursday night. I understand the business had been struggling for a while and after the robbery the directors felt they really didn't want to continue."

An employee of Prices said: "We were told Saturday morning not to come back to work. None of the Dawsons shops were opening.

"We were told by a member of staff. We're just picking up our personal possessions. We have got to leave."

Mr Henry said he had already spoken to some employees and that they would likely be covered financially by employment legislation.

Lee Dickinson resigned his position as director of Dawsons in August, 2013.

He was jailed in July of that year for 10 years for a series of rape offences.

People have speculated on social media the closure relates to the jail sentence but this was denied by Dickinson’s family.

Westhoughton South councillor, David Chadwick said he was saddened by the news of the closure.

He said: "I'm always sad to see a business close down for whatever reason. It's been in the town for a number of years."

No description of the robbers has been released by the police.

Those with information are asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.