A MASKED gang terrified off-licence staff armed with a pistol, claw hammer and baseball bat.

Four men entered Edenfield Mini Market in Bolton Road North, Edenfield and got away with cash, cigarettes and alcohol.

Two members of staff were targeted by three members of the gang, while a fourth man guarded the door with a baseball bat.

The staff, who emerged from the incident unharmed, handed over £300 from the store’s till, as well as several bottles of spirits from behind the counter.

The gang then grabbed two boxes of cigarettes from the counter and stole an iPhone before smashing the screen of a lottery machine.

They also damaging the counter with the claw hammer before fleeing the scene.

It happened at around 6.30pm on April 10 but police have only just released details.

DC Harvinda Uppal, from Pennine police, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff members involved and it was fortunate that nobody was hurt.

“An investigation is underway but the store is situated just off a busy main road in a residential area.

“At rush hour I am convinced someone will have seen something.

“I would ask anyone who thinks they know the identity of the men responsible or with any information that could assist us with our enquiries to contact us on 101.”

All four men were wearing balaclavas and one man was carrying a red rucksack with two shoulder straps. The men spoke with north Manchester accents.

Edenfield Mini Market declined to comment.