A MASKED robber fled empty-handed after a shopkeeper refused to hand over money from a till.

The raider walked into the Happy Shopper store in Coates Avenue, Barnoldswick, armed with what appeared to be a CS spray and pointed it at shop manager Abid Mamoud.

The robber ordered Mr Mamoud, 30, to open the till but the shopkeeper refused.

The raider tried unsuccessfully to open the till and then ran out of the shop.

He got into a greeny black old type D-reg VW Sirocco driven by another man and drove off towards the town centre.

Mr Mamoud was shaken but otherwise unharmed by his ordeal. The robber was a white male, 6ft-plus tall, with tidy long blond hair and crooked teeth.

He was wearing a baseball cap and ragged black clothing.

The incident happened at 6.50pm on Sunday.

Anyone with information should contact Colne CID on 01282 863161.

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