SECURITY guards were held at gun-point and tied up during a robbery.

The guards were ambushed by three men as they refilled cash machines at Cheshire Oaks at 12.30pm on Friday.

The robbers leapt from loft space above one of the machines and threatened the guards with a shotgun, a machete and a truncheon.

They then bound the guards' hands and feet with tape and stole a large amount of used notes. The security men were shaken but un-hurt.

The robbers fled through the roof space. Two escaped in a blue Vaux-hall Vectra - KS52 NYV, which is believed to be a false number.

The third man stole a silver Toyota Celica from a woman in the Sainsbury's car park. This was later found abandoned in Helsby.

Inspector Kathy Wright, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: 'There had been a deliberate attempt to set it on fire using an accelerant.'

The robber who took the car was black, aged 30-40, 5ft 9ins-6ft, of medium build. He wore a white/cream baseball cap with blue peak, dark jacket, dark bottoms and top, possibly overalls, and a white undershirt. He was carrying a large black canvas-type holdall, 2-3ft in length, with shoulder strap which had a light grey and white pattern cross stitch.

At 4.20pm the same day, he was seen at Helsby Railway Station. He caught the 5.03pm train, bound for Runcorn, Warrington, Newton le Willows, Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly.

The other two robbers were:

White with a possible tan, 30 years, 5ft 8-9ins, stocky or medium build, fair complexion, clean shaven and portly.

He wore a tight dark T-shirt and a scarf covering his head and tied in a knot at the rear, as if he was covering long hair in a bun. He had an identical holdall.

Asian looking, 30 years, 5ft 9ins-6ft, slim build with sharp features, possible facial hair, dark thick eyebrows, and a dark black wig which was short and thick with a parting. He was smartly dressed in a dark jacket and dark trousers.

The offenders had Liverpool accents.

Witnesses should call the specialist investigation unit on 01244 613141 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.