THE police are doing "all they can" to track down the armed robbers who raided two supermarkets and a pawnbrokers in the space of 11 days.

Tens of thousands of pounds were stolen from cash-in-transit vans at Aldi in Trinity Street on June 29, and Asda in St Helens Road on July 10.

On July 3 four axe-wielding thugs on motorbikes struck at H&T Pawnbrokers in Newport Street.

Detectives believe a different gang was responsible for each robbery, and none is linked.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, said she would ask "tough questions" of police after the spate of robberies.

But police say everything their resources allow is being done to prevent more raids and catch the culprits.

No arrests have yet been made.

A spokesman said: "We are increasing patrols in the relevant areas and and are doing everything we can.

"We are using our available resources, not just to catch the culprits, but also to prevent future crimes from taking place.

"We want people to feel safe and therefore we are trying to have a more visible presence on the streets."

Detectives are trawling CCTV footage of all three armed robberies.

Forensic evidence was found at the three scenes, and officers are awaiting some results which could develop their investigations.

All the vehicles used in all three raids were stolen. The car used in the Asda robbery, a dark grey Ford Focus, was later found abandoned by officers in Back Deane Church Lane. A VW Golf was used in the Aldi raid.

Ms Qureshi said she will be meeting with police for reassurance that everything is being done to protect the community, after she met with Asda staff caught up in the robbery at their place of work.

One robber slashed a 32-year-old with a machete at Aldi when he tried to foil the gang's get-away.

A 66-year-old man had to be taken to hospital after he was hit by one of the motorbikes outside the pawnbrokers, having used an advertising board to try to stop the robbers.

Up to five robbers were involved in the Aldi raid, and four people are thought to have participated in both the pawnbrokers and Asda raids.

Anyone with information on the armed robberies can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Meanwhile a Westhoughton man has been charged with robbery after jewellery store Humberstone's in Blackburn was raided on Monday.

Danny Booth, aged 27, of Park Road, appeared before Blackburn Magistrates' Court yesterday, alongside Scott Marsden, aged 27, of Chapelside Close, who was also charged with robbery.

A second Bolton man, also aged 27, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and has been bailed until September 2 pending further inquiries.

A police investigation into that raid continues, although it is not being linked with any of the Bolton robberies.