A SECURITY guard was confronted by armed raiders wielding an axe and knife at a sleepy village bank.

But the robbers left empty handed, on Tuesday, after holding up a Securicor delivery van in Culcheth.

Two men brandishing the weapons demanded money from the guard after he entered Barclays bank on Lodge Drive at 11am.

The robbers were scared off when a plume of smoke, part of the bank's security system, filled the bank. Unable to see, the robbers fled the scene and sped off in a blue Ford Mondeo.

The vehicle, stolen from the Wigan area, was later found abandoned and burned-out 500 yards away on Twiss Green Lane.

Three customers were in the village centre branch during the armed raid, as well as members of staff.

The raiders wore dark clothing that covered their faces and they spoke with north west accents.

Detectives sent out police patrols in the area and have conducted house-to-house enquiries.

Investigating officer DC Adam Waller said: "Offenders target quiet village banks like this because, unlike the town centre, there are no CCTV cameras.

"There is motorway network nearby, the offenders would only be a short distance from the M62 or East Lancs road."

Anyone with information should call DS Chris Barrow on 652222.