A WITNESS appeal has been launched after one man was assaulted during a robbery at Tesco Express on Manchester Road.

Two offenders in balaclavas threatened a security officer and then assaulted a second before escaping with a quantity of cash between 11.30am and 11.45am on Saturday from a cash in transit van outside the store.

Police say a light-coloured Land Rover Defender, which had been stolen, made off from the scene and was later found burnt out a short distance away on Larkfield Avenue, Paddington.

The pair then escaped in a dark-coloured Audi 4x4 heading towards Manchester.

One female witness said she saw the car mount the path on Paddington bank before it crashed and set alight and said it was ‘very scary’ for her and her two children.

Cheshire Fire confirmed an investigation into the cause of the blaze was under way.

DC Richard Kennedy, the investigator in this case, said:  "Thankfully the injuries to the security guard were minor. 

"We have been carrying out a number of enquiries in the area and I would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact me. " 

Anyone with information should contact DC Richard Kennedy on 101 quoting incident number 362 of 24 May 2014.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.