A STORE is to step up security after being robbed by armed raiders for the sixth time in just 12 months.

Bosses of the Spar shop in Heywood Road, Prestwich, are to install an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry in a bid to beat the criminals, following discussions with the police.

A security guard has already been employed to help protect the grocery store following the latest raid on Tuesday (Sept 4).

A customer suffered minor injuries when he was shoved into shelving by one of two armed raiders who struck at 7.30pm.

The white teenage robbers both carried handguns when they stormed the store. It was later discovered that the weapons were blank firing starting pistols after a magazine was recovered outside the shop. The men escaped in a silver Volvo driven by a third person who was only described as black.

A quantity of cigarettes and £150 in cash were taken in the raid. The Volvo was later found abandoned in Egerton Street, Prestwich.

Manageress of the store, Mrs Carol Stout, said her priority was to protect staff and customers from harm.

She said: "This is the sixth time in the last 12 months and just eight weeks since the last raid that the shop has been robbed by armed thieves.

"Our staff are aware that the store is targeted regularly and they are trained not to react to offenders when they come into the store and rob it.

"Cash and goods can be replaced. Lives can't."

Miss Stout said it was prudent not to mention what security measures would be used to deter future raids but added that the owners of the store were spending a substantial amount of money on protecting the shop.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to Tuesday night's raid to contact Whitefield CID on 856 8248.

Sergeant Bruce Howard of Bury's Operational Police Unit said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who saw the offenders enter and leave the shop or abandon the Volvo."