A MAN was covered in blood after his eye was split in a fight outside Greenoaks shopping centre in Albert Road, Widnes, at 10am last Friday morning.

The drama unfolded minutes after a security guard had summoned the police armed response team to protect a Securicor man collecting cash, who feared he was being followed.

"There was blood everywhere," said an Athena security guard who ran to help a lone police woman deal with the injured victim.

"I had to go home and change my shirt. It was covered in blood."

Paramedics took the man to hospital.

Neighbourhood police Insp Nick Bailey said the two incidents, on Friday, June 16, were unrelated.

"It is Cheshire policy, wherever possible, to support cash in transit vans if they fear they are being followed."

Two arrests were made in connection with the fight but no-one has yet been charged.