A SECURICOR guard was threatened and robbed as he made a cash delivery at a service station in Rudheath on Monday.

The four robbers struck at 1.50pm, stealing a cash box from the guard, who was on the forecourt of the BP service station in Cookes Lane.

No one was injured during the robbery, which happened as the guard was delivering a quantity of money for the cash machine.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police had been watching the men as part of an operation when the robbery occurred.

After stealing the cash box, the robbers got into a car and drove off. But members of the Cheshire Police traffic unit spotted them.

With their help, the men were followed to Irlam in the Greater Manchester area where they were arrested at 1.30pm by Manchester police officers on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to rob.

Gwen Bates, who works at the Spar shop at the service station, said: "It is a bit of shock when it is on your doorstep.

"There was a big bang as if someone had hit the building.

"It was like a mini earthquake."

She added: "The guard was really shaken up. He looked ashen when we went out to offer him a drink.

"You can understand it when it is dark but not in the middle of lunch time when everyone was knocking off work.

"Lunch times are a busy time."

Yesterday, Tuesday a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Four men continue to be questioned by detectives following a robbery at a service station in Cheshire.

"The men, aged 23, 28, 31 and 38, are all from the Salford area."