A SECURITY guard was hit with an iron bar during an armed robbery at a restaurant.

He was delivering cash to McDonald’s, at Riverside Retail Park, Radcliffe, when he was attacked by two men yesterday morning.

The restaurant, off Pilkington Way, was closed for most of the morning and customers were turned away in the car park while detectives interviewed staff and witnesses.

The robbers hit the security guard with the iron bar and stole cash, believed to be between £20,000 and £30,000, just before 7.30am.

They threatened staff and took the money from the cash office before demanding more money from the tills.

The men, who wore balaclavas and crash helmets, escaped in a black Citroen Xsara, which was found abandoned shortly afterwards at an industrial estate near to the retail park.

One is described as around 5ft 8 in tall and the other around 5ft 11in tall. Both are stocky and wore dark clothing. Five members of staff were working in the restaurant and although none was injured, many were left shaken.

A spokesperson said: “We are offering our full support to those staff members.”