POLICE are today appealing for information after security guards at a Darlington supermarket chased a gang of suspected thieves believed to be armed with a gun.

Security staff at Morrisons, in North Road, began to follow the group of five as they left the store at 8.30pm last night, believing they had been shoplifting.

A short time later, a Ford Fiesta crashed beneath the railway bridge between Whessoe Road and Hopetown Lane, at the rear of the supermarket car park.

The suspects, three men and two women, got out of the car and were confronted by the security guards.

One of the male suspects produced what is thought to have been a handgun and pointed it at the guards.

The gang then escaped on foot towards the Hopetown Lane/Brinkburn Road area.

Police are now wishing to speak to any shoppers or residents who may have seen or heard anything.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has further information, should call police on 0845 60 60 365.