A SECURITY van guard from York was badly injured when he was attacked by robbers while delivering cash to a bank, it emerged today.

The Securicor worker suffered serious injuries to his arm when the men, one of whom was armed with an axe, snatched a cash box he was carrying.

Few details have been released about the attack, but the guard's assailant is thought to have swung the axe at the victim's left arm without warning.

Two women passers-by used their clothes to staunch bleeding from the security guard's wrist before an ambulance arrived.

A reward of up to £25,000 is being offered in an effort to bring the man's robbers to justice.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police would not reveal how much money was stolen in the raid which took place in Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds, on Tuesday morning.

She said the injured guard was taken to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, where he was treated for injuries to his left arm. He was discharged on Wednesday.

A West Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedic who attended the scene told the Evening Press that the guard's injuries were not life-threatening. He said: "We are grateful for the women's assistance. In more serious circumstances, first aid could save someone's life."

The two robbers, who were wearing dark-coloured clothing and wearing black woollen hats, escaped in a stolen blue BMW which was found dumped in the car park of a nearby health centre.

A Securicor spokeswoman said: "Securicor deplores such incidents and is doing everything possible to assist the police with their inquiries. The safety of our staff and the public is of paramount importance and, as such, we are offering a reward of up to £25,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack."

She refused to confirm whether the cash pack was the type containing indelible dye that, when forced open, would have stained the stolen notes and made them unusable.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, May 15, 2004