MASKED men robbed a convenience store and fled before police arrived. 

Two armed men in balaclavas raided the Co-op store in Highfield Road, Farnworth, on Sunday evening. 

It is at least the third attack on the shop in the past year.

According to police, the men ran off through Highfield and towards the M61.

At 9.25pm on Sunday, GMP Bolton South posted on Facebook: “Armed robbery at a shop on Highfield Road, Farnworth in the last 30 minutes. Two males wearing balaclavas and dark clothing ran off into the estate towards the M61.”

Witnesses said that the two men were carrying machetes and also reported seeing a silver car with a further two people in making away from the scene at a similar time to the incident. 

It is not believed that any staff were hurt. 

A spokesman for the Co-op added: “CCTV coverage has been shared with the police, who are investigating, and we would ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

"We work closely with police and crime prevention bodies, and implement a range of measures designed to deter and disrupt criminal behaviour.”

The shop has been a target for crime in the past few years.

In December 2018, Co-op issued a statement which said security had been stepped up at the store due to two separate incidents of customers threatening staff within a four-day period.

In March 2018, the cash machine was smashed and in August 2017, two men attempted to raid the store, one armed with a sawn-off shotgun.

Call 101, quoting log number 2893 of 21/07/19 with information.