A TERRIFIED shop assistant threatened by two men armed with a machete managed to thwart the thieves by pressing a panic alarm button.

The masked men, wearing black balaclavas, entered a newsagents on Corner Lane, Leigh, at 5.55pm on Saturday.

They threatened the woman behind the counter with the machete and attempted to snatch the till, but they fled empty-handed after she pressed the panic button.

The men were seen making their getaway in a small red car.

Both men were thought to be in their mid-teens and were wearing camouflage jackets.

At least one or two other men were thought to have also been in the red car.

Anyone able to help track the thieves down should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or Leigh CID on 0161 872 5050.

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