A MASKED raider armed with a pistol fled from a town centre newsagents' shop after a bungled robbery.
A man wearing a balaclava and armed with a handgun entered the shop at 6.45am on Tuesday in Railway Road, Leigh.
The shop assistant heard the door as the man entered and, thinking it was a customer, went to serve him. He then threatened her, demanding money. When she told the offender there wasn't any he tried to grab the till, but was unsuccessful and left empty-handed.
She said: "I panicked when I saw the gun, it looked very real, but I don't think it was."
Her husband said: "Myself and my wife have owned this shop for 10 years and never had anything like this happen. We were a bit shaken-up, but thankfully nobody was hurt."
Police are appealing for witnesses to call 0161 856 7240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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