ROBBERS escaped with thousands of pounds after ramming a security van with a tractor.

And last night's raid happened at the same spot in Warrington where a robbery at a Brinks Mat depot was foiled three weeks ago, the ECHO has learned.

The Securitas vehicle was attacked at 8.15pm in Rufford Court, on the Hardwick Grange industrial estate in Woolson.

Brinks, the company robbed of £26m in gold bullion from its Heathrow depot in 1983, also has a base there, which was the scene of an attempted robbery last month.

Kevin Taylor, security office for Morrisons, which now owns the Safe-way depot, said: "A security guard was on patrol last night and he heard a loud bang and saw the cab of the Securitas van and the Volvo truck on fire.

The Securitas van was rammed from behind by a tractor, crashing into a lorry. Two men wearing balaclavas and carrying crowbars smashed the van windows and set fire to the truck, before grabbing a number of cash boxes and escaping.

Two Securitas workers were unharmed.

A Volvo V40, believed to be the getaway vehicle, was later discovered less than a mile from the scene.

The incident is not being linked to the £53m Securitas robbery in Kent two weeks ago.

A spokesman for Cheshire police said it was thought the gang had escaped with thousands of pounds.

A spokesman for Securitas confirmed the amount was less than £1m.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01244 614 893 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.