The two men were seen entering the Cook shop on Manchester Fort, just off Cheetham Hill Road, at about 5pm the Manchester Evening News reports.

The assailants are said to have smashed through the window of the bureau de change – with a staff member sat behind it – during the attempted robbery.

Thankfully, police and security staff were alerted, chased the men, and they were unable to escape with any money.

One eyewitness said there were customers in the store at the time of the incident.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: “We can confirm that an attempted robbery took place at our Thomas Cook store in Manchester earlier today.

"All persons present during the incident are safe and unharmed. The safety of our staff and customers remains our priority and we are working with the police to assist them with their investigation.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson added: “We were called just before 4.45pm to reports of an attempted robbery at Manchester Fort. It is unclear at this stage if any weapons were used. No one appears to have been injured.”

Anyone with further information is urged to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.