THE owner of a convenience store which was robbed by three masked men carrying a baton and a meat cleaver in a £13,000 raid said he was devastated.

Rob Hilsden, who has owned the Spar store on Alder Drive in Hoghton since 2005, was confronted by three men in balaclavas just before 10pm on Tuesday as he was closing up.

My Hilsden said he was forced to open the safe, which contained around £9,200, while the other two raiders stole a quantity of cigarettes and alcohol.

One staff member suffered a cracked jaw in the incident after being headbutted by one of the attackers.

No arrests have yet been made.

Mr Hilsden said: “You just don’t expect something like this to happen in a small village.

“They forced me to open the safe while the others took half a gantry of cigarettes and spirit and ripped out the CCTV system.

“Then they ran out and around the corner. They must have had a car waiting because they were gone in a flash.

“I’m still very shaken and a staff member is in hospital with a cracked jaw.

“We’re closed until further notice but I’ll reopen soon, they won’t beat me.”

This robbery is that latest on Spar stores following attacks on the store in Todmorden Road, Burnley, on Friday night and Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, in August.

One of the robbers is described as white, around 6ft and of medium build.

Another is described as black, around 5ft 9ins, of medium build with a moustache.

The third robber is described as white, around 5ft 7ins and was of slim build. All three were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

No arrests have been made. Detectives are appealing for witnesses.

Detective Sergeant Chris Walsh said: “This was an extremely violent incident where a shop employee, just doing his job, was badly assaulted. Both he and the other worker have been left extremely shaken up by their ordeal.

“We think that the store was targeted and I would like to reassure people that there is not thought to be any wider threat to residents in the area, however, we have stepped up police patrols.

“If you have any information about the incident, please contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information can call Preston CID on 01772 209749 or if they fail to get an answer, 101, quoting incident reference 1585 of October 17.