AN off licence owner who came face-to-face with a masked armed robber said today he will be fitting CCTV to his shop.

Azeem Khan had been in the back of The Corner Shop in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, watching TV when the man entered the premises at 9.55pm on Wednesday.

Mr Khan, 58, who has run the business for the past eight years, said: "I got up and went behind the counter and then the man pulled on a black balaclava mask and pointed a gun at me saying, 'Open the till'

"I said there is nothing there and was half laughing because I knew there was not much money in it. I calmly opened the till and he took £10 and £5 notes and £1 coins.

"He has a small black handgun and he had hold of it with both his hands. As he left the shop he said to me, 'If you tell the police you are a dead man.'"

Mr Khan said his wife would normally have been in the shop serving at that time but, fortunately, she is in Pakistan at the moment.

He added: "Afterwards, I shouted to my son and told him what had happened and he gave chase with his friends, but they lost him near the Ashworth Arms.

"I went to the police station and then scoured the estates to look for the man and to try to find my son to make sure he was OK.

"This is a calm and quiet neighbourhood and we have never had anything like this happen before. I am going to get cameras fitted now." Police hope passing motorists may have seen the man leave -- especially as he was riding a mountain bike.

He is described as white, with black hair, aged 22 to 23, 5ft 10ins tall, medium build, with big eyes and rough hands. Witnesses said they saw a man wearing a green waterproof jacket, beige trousers and riding a mountain bike. He made off with £65.

A second robbery took place on Wednesday night at Booze Busters, Bank Street, Rawtenstall, where an 18-year-old shop assistant was serving.

A man entered the shop at 8.55pm and threatened the girl with a craft knife before stealing £100 from the till.

He was wearing a dark stocking mask, which he discarded outside the shop. He is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, medium build, with short light-coloured hair, not blond, with a slim face. He wearing a salmon-coloured top and grey mid-charcoal waist-length jacket with a zip front and possibly boots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 01706 237442.