A TERRIFIED van driver claims robbers who ambushed him may have had a shotgun.

Police believe the gang-of-three set a trap and lay in wait specifically for the man, knowing he had a large amount of cash on him.

The robbery took place at about 3pm on Thursday as the victim was driving his white transit delivery van along Darnhall School Lane in Winsford.

He was stopped by an L-Reg red Ford Mondeo blocking the road with its hazard lights flashing.

One man got out of the Mondeo and explained the car had broken down and the van driver got out of his vehicle after being asked for help.

As soon as the man got out of his van, the robber suddenly shouted: 'Only joking - give us your money.' A second raider appeared out of the car and snatched an envelope containing a large amount of cash from the van's passenger seat. The pair were then driven off by a third man waiting in the Mondeo.

During the raid the van driver saw what he believed to be a shotgun. Det Rupert Morrey said: 'There's a suggestion he may have seen a gun, he just saw a barrel.

'The man is a delivery driver who doesn't normally carry money, so it appears they knew he was coming. They knew he had cash on him.'

They would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the L-Reg Mondeo near to Darnhall School Lane at around 3pm last Thursday. If you can help, call Cheshire police on 01606 48000 or the Crimestoppers confidential hotline on 0800 555111.