ARMED robbers threatened a shop assistant with a machete before stealing thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes.

Three men armed with a machete and a holdall burst into a supermarket on Newbrook Road on the Atherton/Over Hulton fringe at around 8.20pm on Monday, December 23.

They stole cigarettes from behind the counter and money from the till before running out of the shop and driving off in a small white van parked round the back.

The first offender is described as white; he was wearing a three quarter hooded coat and a balaclava covering his face. He wore dark tracksuit bottoms and grey Adidas trainers, he was carrying the machete.

The second was wearing a navy blue three quarter hooded coat with a dark face covering. He wore black Adidas tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

The third was wearing a navy blue waist length hooded top with a blue face covering. He wore light grey Adidas tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a Nike holdall.

Detective Sergeant Tony Lunt from Bolton division, said: “This was a frightening situation for the shop staff to be faced with.

“It was a well organised robbery; these thieves came armed with a machete and had their getaway van parked round the back of the shop.

“The robbery happened at around 8.20pm and I would urge anyone who witnessed the robbery or saw these men acting suspiciously or driving the white van around the time of the incident to contact us.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5608 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.