THREE men have been arrested following two "extremely violent" robberies in Bury and Radcliffe in which thugs wielded machetes.

The first raid happened at 3.05am yesterday when criminals kicked open the front door of a house on Canterbury Drive in Bury. 

They went upstairs, with one brandishing a machete, and one of the intruders punched the occupier of the house, a 25-year-old man, before hitting him on the arm with the blunt machete. 

They demanded cash and his mobile phone before leaving. The man suffered a broken arm. 

Just hours later, at 7.40am, a group of three men wearing hooded tops forced their way into a house in Bury and Bolton Road in Radcliffe.

They demanded car keys to the couple's Mercedes and Golf parked outside before repeatedly attacking the 70-year-old man living there with a machete which caused deep tissue damage and a broken arm. 

They stole the two vehicles from the driveway and the Mercedes was found abandoned in nearby Starling Street.

Three men, aged 20, 23, and 26, were detained nearby and have been arrested on suspicion of robbery. 

The 23-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary. 

They remain in police custody for questioning. 

Detective Sergeant Laurence Dixon said: "These robberies were extremely violent and have left two victims with broken arms. 

"We have three men in custody on suspicion of robbery but would ask if anyone has any information at all about who may be responsible or who may have seen any suspicious activity in the areas where the incidents happened that they contact police immediately."

The 70-year-old was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital for treatment and was kept in overnight.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8159 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.