THREE armed robbers threatened a cashier at a service station with a pair of bolt cutters.

The gang entered the shop at the Shell garage in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, shortly before 8.30pm on Thursday night.

The robbers, all wearing balaclavas, threatened the 21-year-old assistant with the bolt cutters and tried to break into a cash machine.

When they failed to open it, they grabbed the contents of the till. The men then escaped in a grey Toyota which had been stolen from the Sedgley Park area the day before.

The car, registration K406 HDK, was later found abandoned in Ainsdale Avenue, Salford.

The shop assistant was not injured in the incident.

The robbers are believed to be white, aged between 20 and 30 years old, between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 8ins tall, and of medium build.

Anyone with any information should contact Bury CID on 0161 856 8150, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.