TWO armed robbers escaped with a large amount of cash in a bank ram-raid today.

The men, wearing balaclavas and brandishing shotguns, grabbed the cash after reversing a stolen BMW into the side of the TSB bank, Market Street, Farnworth.

Shoppers on the road outside watched in terror as the two men then ran in to the bank waving the guns in the air shortly before 10.30am.

No shots were fired during the robbery and it is thought no customers were in the bank at the time. None of the bank staff was injured.

The two men escaped in a dark-coloured Cavalier-type car which was driven at high speed down side streets.

A lorry driver attempted to block their escape route but the raiders managed to get away.

Police are appealing for the lorry driver to come forward because he may hold vital information.

The car is believed to have been abandoned in Kearsley.

Shoppers who saw the armed men ran into nearby shops to raise the alarm.

One newsagent in Market Street said: "I am in complete shock. All my customers are coming and talking about.

"One of them was in Aldi at the time and couldn't believe what was happening."

Police officers arrived on the scene within minutes but the raiders had escaped. Main roads throughout the Farnworth, Kearsley and Salford areas were sealed off.