A MAN suspected of raiding a shop was pinned to the ground and detained by two passers-by until police arrived.

Police praised their bravery after the attem-ptied burglary at the Co-operative store in Little Harwood, Blackburn, this morning.

A man walked into the store at the junction of Whalley Old Road and St Stephen’s Avenue wearing a motorcycle helmet, at just after 8.30am, officers said.

According to police he entered through a side door and was heading for a safe.

The man then stole a quantity of cash before trying to flee.

Two female members of staff pushed the door shut in a bid to keep him in the shop, but following a struggle he managed to free himself.

Police said two men, aged 57 and 45, who were passing by, ‘grappled’ with a suspect and managed to pin him down to the ground.

They detained him until six police cars arrived at the scene minutes later.

Sergeant Graham Mar-shall, from Blackburn CID, said: “We are extremely grateful to the staff and the members of the public who detained the suspect until we arrived.

"The staff have been left shaken by the incident but fortunately no-one was injured and I would like to commend their bravery.”

Police arrested a 25-year-old man who was being questioned at Blackburn Police Station.

Following the burglary, forensic officers scoured the shop for evidence.

Musa Sidat, 52, owner of the Sidat Hardware store, opposite the Co-op shop, described the moment the police descended on the scene.

He said: “I was in the shop talking to my friend when I saw all these blue flashing lights. When I got outside I saw a man being held down by some people outside the shop. There were police everywhere and they came running out of their cars and grabbed the man and took him into the back of one of the cars.

“It’s a bit scary because this is the second time the shop has been robbed and a lot of the shopkeepers are frightened that they will be next.”

In October, raiders stole cash from a security van outside the shop in what police at the time called a ‘well-planned’ robbery.

Sarah Lynsey, 43, who lives nearby, said: “I can’t believe this has happened again.

"It was only a few months ago that they got raided.

"Loads of people around here are now scared to go out at night because they are scared of being attacked.”

A Co-operative Gr-oup spokesman, said: “Staff members were shaken but unhurt.

The store was closed for a short while but has since reopened.”

Police have appealed for witnesses.