A GANG of armed robbers targeted a bank in Ramsbottom last night.

Shortly before 9.45pm, police were called to Santander in Bolton Street after receiving reports that three offenders ­— one armed with a knife and one armed with an angle grinder ­— had entered the bank.

They then fled the scene with an amount of cash.

Officers are carrying out enquiries into the full circumstances around the incident.

The bank reopened as normal on Wednesday morning.

A Santander spokesman said: “We can confirm that an incident took place at our Ramsbottom branch yesterday evening and we are supporting the police with their investigations.

"The branch remains open as usual, however the ATM is only accepting deposits and not withdrawals.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and hope to have the ATM fixed shortly, meanwhile customers can withdraw cash over the counter.”

The branch was also targeted last April when a gang of masked and armed men smashed their way through the glass door before robbing a cash-in-transit vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8172 quoting incident number 2337 of 16/04/19.

Information can be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.