A BALACLAVA-CLAD thief armed with a knife escaped with £300 after a raid on the Premier Store in Coal Clough Lane, Burnley.

The man threatened a woman working in the shop and handed her a pillowcase to empty the contents of the till into.

He also leaned over the counter and removed coins from the till before snatching the pillowcase back and fleeing along Whitehaven Street on to the back of Coal Clough Lane towards Swindon Street.

The incident happened at around 4.05pm on Friday.

Kamaljit Kaur runs the shop, and another in Brunshaw Road, with her husband.

She said: “It is the second time this shop has been targeted — there was a robbery in March.

“On both occasions it happened while one member of staff was on a break so there was only one person in the shop.

“It must be that someone is watching out and knows when breaks are happening so they go in then.

“It was a traumatic experience for the shop assistant. She has been shaken by it.

“We have got CCTV in the shop though and we have passed all footage on to the police.”

The armed man is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall, and of a medium to stocky build.

Officers believe the same man was seen standing on the corner of Whitehaven Street with Coal Clough Lane, adjacent to the shop, for around 15 minutes before the robbery.

DC 771 Darren Irving, of Burnley CID, said: “This was a very traumatic experience for the shop assistant.

“We are determined to find the man responsible.

“If anybody saw this man or noticed him standing around outside the shop or running away after the incident, please get in touch.

“Please call 01282 472518 qu- oting log number 939 of August 21.”

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers can also be contacted online — at Crimestoppers-uk.org.