Car recovered by police which they believe was used in the robbery

Police have arrested four men following a robbery where several firearms were stolen.

Three men aged 23,24 and 34 from Preston and a 20-year-old man from Liverpool have been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

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A woman and two boys, aged 8 and 10, were tied up and threatened at their home in Longridge according to Lancashire Police.

The robbers, who were armed with knives, made off with a white transit van packed with a pump action shot-gun, deer rifle and foxing rifle as well as ammo.

The incident took place on Tuesday 11 February just after 4.30pm at a house on Halfpenny Lane.

All four men were wearing masks and gloves, detectives said they spoke with Liverpool accents.

Detective Inspector Paddy O’Neill from Preston CID said: “So far we have arrested four men in connection with this investigation, as well as executing a number of search warrants in an effort to gather evidence and recover the weapons.

“We believe that the people responsible for this robbery had access to the pictured silver Ford Fiesta, registration number MV04YZJ, which was recovered in Liverpool last month.

“We know the car was in Preston at the time the offence was committed and we believe it was parked up somewhere in Preston between 6pm on Tuesday 11 February and Thursday 13 February.

“One hypothesis that we are working through is that the vehicle was abandoned near the Royal Preston Hospital; the other being that it was left somewhere near Deepdale Retail Park.

“I would ask the public to have a look at the picture and if anyone remembers seeing the Fiesta in the time-frame and/or locations described, then I would urge them to contact police.”