A SHOPLIFTER threatened a female shop assistant with a screwdriver and punched her twice in the face after she chased after him.

Staff at the town centre Argos store in Nelson had been asked if they could take a £200 gold bracelet out of a display cabinet for a customer to examine.

But once the man, thought to be aged 35 to 40, was given the piece of jewelllery, he refused to return it.

And when he was confronted he fled from the Trafalgar Mall store and along Scotland Road, Sgt Matt Henderson said.

Shop assistants from Argos, including the 43-year-old female staff member, chased the escaping thief.

Sgt Henderson said that the woman eventually caught up with the man behind Cooper Street - but he produced a screwdriver.

He threatened to stab the woman then punched her twice in the face, leaving her with bruising and a cut forehead.

Sgt Henderson said: "It is very unusual for a shoplifter to react in this way, producing a screwdriver and threatening someone in this way, before punching her."

The man police are hunting is said to be white, of medium build, and at the time of the attack he was wearing a brown jacket, dark trousers and a dark green hat.

The bracelet, a nine-carat gold item of men's jewellery, was not recovered during the incident, which occurred at around 12.55pm.

Potential witnesses are asked to contact Pendle police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.