THE MANAGER of a small town bank was taken to hospital for treatment after armed men raided his branch.

Police are hunting at least three men who smashed their way into Barclays Bank in Carnforth wearing balaclavas and brandishing handguns at 9.25am on Tuesday.

The manager was left with bruises and was severely shaken by the ordeal. He was allowed home from hospital the same day.

One witness described how the men climbed onto the roof of their car and threw a beer barrel through a window of the Market Street bank before climbing in.

And a woman working in the Co-op Pharmacy, just two doors up from the bank, praised the courage of a van driver who was making a delivery at the time.

She says: "He was really brave. He ran up and down the street diverting people away from the incident."

The men, who escaped with a quantity of cash, were seen leaving the scene in a blue Alfa Romeo which was later found aban-doned in Queen's Drive, just 600 yards from the scene.

Detective Inspector Neil Esseen, said: "We know three men were involved, but there might have been a fourth who was the driver.

"The blue car had a registration number MW53 YWJ, but it was a false plate and the real number was K444 MAD. It has allowed us to establish that the vehicle had been stolen from Northwich."

He added: ""Now we are anxious to speak to anyone who might have witnessed this car being driven anywhere near the bank in the previous couple of days."

Police also want to establish where the beer barrel came from and if anyone saw the car being driven away from the bank - or the vehicle in which the gang left the area "We need to find these men because they are dangerous. They were armed and showed a total disregard for the staff they threatened in a most terrifying way," adds DI Esseen.

The branch remained closed yesterday morning (Wednesday) while repairs were made to damaged equipment, but it was hoped that it would re-open later.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police in Lancaster on 01524-63333 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.