A ROBBER has escaped with cash after raiding a Darwen off-licence leaving two members off staff ‘distressed and terrified’.

The raider struck at the Bargain Booze shop in Duckworth Street at 1.20pm yesterday.

Police said the man demanded that staff empty the till and escaped with around £100 in cash.

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Two female employees were working in the shop at the time of the robbery.

The suspect entered the shop, asked for cigarettes, and when a member of staff opened the till he pulled a knife from his jacket and demanded cash.

Police are studying CCTV footage of the incident today.

The suspect was described as of Asian appearance, around 6ft tall and in his 30s.

He was wearing a red jacket, grey tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

After grabbing the cash he escaped on foot along Duckworth Street towards Darwen town centre.

Yesterday afternoon a police dog unit, a crime scene investigation team and three other police vehicles could be seen outside the premises and officers began their investigations.

The shop remained closed as detectives spoke to the victims and nearby business owners.

Arif Moosa has run the nearby Dove DIY store for around 12 years.

He said: “We’ve been broken into once during that period but it’s been relatively quiet.

“It’s shocking and surprising that there’s been a robbery so close.

“Let’s hope they catch this man soon.”

Detective Sgt Ben Hodgkinson from Blackburn CID, said: “It’s been very distressing and a frightening experience for the two shop workers who were targeted by this man.

“I would urge anybody who saw the man described or has any information to get in touch.”

Ring the police on 01254 353562 or call 101.

Bargain Booze’s other branch in Darwen – on Bolton Road – was the target of an armed robbery in May 2013.

In that incident, a shop worker was threatened by two hammer-wielding robbers who demanded they hand over cash.