ROBBERS armed with a meat cleaver and crow bars raided a supermarket.

Four men - one of whom was wielding the large knife - targeted Asda, in Brackley Street, Farnworth late on Thursday.

Police were called to the scene shortly after 9.30pm and said that the men were wearing paper overalls.

A GMP spokesman confirmed that tills were stolen in the raid, but it is not currently known how much money was taken.

Shoppers reported that the raiders were also carrying crow bars and baseball bats, and threatened staff and customers before making off with the tills.

One shopper who witnessed the terrifying raid said: "I thought there were about six men who came in.

"I was in the shop with my friend and daughter and we were ready to go to the tills when the alarm went off.

"Then we saw all these men with the white suits and balaclavas. They were armed with crow bars and broke down the fire exit to get in.

"I was really scared, I was shaking.

"We could hear all this banging as they smashed up the tills. Some customers were told to go to the back of the store, but some of us just stood and watched."

The shopper, who asked not to be named, added: "It took the police quite a while to get here.

"After it happened we were just told to go to the self service checkouts because the tills were gone.

"Some of us were still shaking and some had dropped their shopping and left."

Another customer, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: "I was coming away from the tills and walking towards the exit when I heard something smash behind me.

"Someone was breaking down the fire exit doors behind the tills.

"Four men came in brandishing crow bars and baseball bats. They went straight for the tills that were open and then took the ones that were shut and put them in a bag.

"I heard them threatening staff and customers. 

"I was moving towards the lobby area and security staff were moving people there and to the back of the store."

An Asda spokesman said: “We’re assisting the police with their enquiries and we’re very grateful for their support.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101 with any information that could help with the investigation.