A GUN-wielding robber conned a garage worker to take him on a test drive then drove off in a top-of-the-range BMW.

Posing as a potential buyer, the man asked the owner to take him out in the car on the M62 in the X-registered £33,000 530 series silver grey car.

The robbery took place at 2.15pm on Wednesday afternoon.

As the pair drove between Winwick and Croft the man asked the owner to pull over on to the hard shoulder so he could use his mobile phone, then pulled out a black revolver and ordered the owner to get out of the car.

The robber then sped off in the car, leaving the stunned owner stranded on the hard shoulder. The car owner was not injured but was left shaken and the car hasn't been seen since.

Police want to speak to anyone who may have seen the robbery take place, who may have been unaware what was going on. And anyone who thinks they may have seen the car leaving the motorway, or who may know of the whereabouts of the car now is asked to contact police. They believe the car either left the motorway at the Croft junction or carried on the M62 to Manchester. The robber is 5ft 10ins, slim build, of Asian origin and aged in his early 20s. The registration number of the car is X452 ECB. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Sgt Pete Cash or Det Con Phil Hyde at Warrington CID on 01244 613833.