ARMED raiders brandishing axes, a machete and a hammer brought terror to Bolton town centre after targeting a pawnbrokers.

The four raiders made off on two motorbikes from H&T Pawnbrokers in Newport Street at about 4.45pm, and a have-a-go hero was injured after trying to stop one of them.

Onlookers said they took some items, but it is not how much or what was taken from the shop.

Police said there was no reports of injuries to staff at the pawnbrokers.

The two black motorcycles, a Yamaha and a Suzuki, both carried two people wearing helmets and then made off in the direction of Victoria Square, and are thought to have turned left on reaching Costa Coffee.

Two of the men were armed with axes, and it is believed one had a machete and another was armed with a lump hammer.

The male have-a-go-hero tried to stop the bikes by throwing a sandwich board underneath their tyres, but he was hit in the hip.

The 66-year-old, who is believed to be an ex-security guard, is said to be conscious and breathing. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

The terrifying scenes came a day after two men on a green motorbike struck at Arthur Kay and Bro Jewellers in Manchester city centre on Thursday, where they smashed a display window with a sledge-hammer before making off up Rolex watches.

In Newport Street, dozens of shocked onlookers watched on as the raiders launched the audacious bid in broad daylight on a busy town centre street.

A businessman, who asked not to be named, spoke of his terror that his shop could be targeted next.

He said: "I saw the bikes pull over and I shouted to my mate: 'There's an armed robbery taking place'.

"Three men went inside, and one stayed outside with an axe patrolling. He was really cool about it, and didn't seem in a rush.

"Passers by were throwing things at them and shouting at them, and I saw one woman dragging her husband away from the scene.

"The guy outside banged three times on the window and they ran out. We were there with our phones and thought they might come for us.

"It was so weird, it seemed to last forever."

Carla Holmes, aged 27, from Moses Gate, went to help the man hit by one of the motorbikes with a number of other onlookers.

The trained first aider said: "I went over and helped when I saw what had happened. It is just what anyone else would do. I just saw him on the floor after he had been hit.

"I just tried to make sure he was conscious and tried to keep him awake."

She added: "I saw him being knocked off his feet, he had tried to use a sandwich board to try and stop them. He was hit in his hip.

"It was quite sad, because he had no family with him at the time. I offered to go to hospital with him but someone else did."

An onlooker, who asked not be named, said: "You just don't expect it to happen in the town centre. The man was just trying to do a good deed and he has ended up being hurt.

"I saw the motorbikes revving off in the direction of Victoria Square. They were all wearing motorbike helmets so it was hard to see what they looked like or how old they were."

Police have issued descriptions of the raiders.

A spokesman said one man was wearing a black jacket, a yellow hi-viz trousers, and a black and white helmet.

Another was wearing a two-tone black jacket, blue trousers and a black helmet, and the third was dressed all in black.

The fourth was dressed in blue and quilted hooded jacket, black trousers and a white and grey helmet.