TWO balaclava-clad thugs threatened female cashiers with a meat cleaver before snatching cash and cigarettes from a Tyldesley off-licence.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the raid on Bargain Booze in Sale Lane at 9.50pm last Thursday night.

The men escaped in a stolen red Ford Fiesta --registration P339 NLG.

The first attacker is described as slim, 6ft tall, wearing cream trousers and a black zip-up jacket.

His accomplice is described as 6ft tall and of stocky build.