A DETECTIVE investigating the terrifying armed bank raid in Tarporley says police are making good progress in their hunt to catch the culprits but still need more help from the community.

Officers spent an hour in the High Street yesterday lunch time speaking to the public about the robbery at NatWest two weeks ago and asking questions in a bid to gain fresh information.

The raid, which happened around 12pm on Wednesday, June 8, saw two masked men armed with crowbars viciously punch and kick two male staff members in the face before stealing cash from the tills.

The two victims, who were treated at the scene for cuts, have just returned to work this week but did not want to talk about the robbery.

Detective constable Gary Morris described the men believed to be from the Manchester area as organised criminals and says CCTV on the A49 and from nearby businesses is being studied in an attempt to trace them.

He added: Were making good progress but were still looking for the public to assist us.

Weve had a good response from the residents of Tarporley, who are very keen to help.

With their continued support weve got a good chance of finding who these people are.

DC Morris said the hour spent in the High Street, which coincided with the time of the robbery on the same day a fortnight earlier, was designed to target people with a set routine.

People go about their business and have their routine, so we want to speak to anyone who may have been around at the time, he explained.

No piece of evidence is too small, it could be key.

Police are keen to find out more information about a cream coloured Rover 75 which was later found burnt out in a field near to the A49 roundabout and a maroon coloured car, possibly a Ford Fiesta, which is believed to have been the getaway car.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 0845 458 0000, quoting incident number 329 of June 8.