A PLUCKY shop manager has told how she feared for her life when she was threatened by a gang of armed robbers.

Maureen Knowles said one of the hooded raiders jabbed at her with what appeared to be a knife, while two others were carrying metal bars.

The 49-year-old was forced to watch in terror as the gang snatched money from the till, and swiped bottles of spirits and cigarettes from the shelves, before fleeing on foot from the No 1 shop in Bolton Hall Road, Bolton Woods, Bradford.

She had been coming out of the stock room at the back of the shop when the four men burst through the door.

Mrs Knowles said: "They came running in. At first I thought someone was mucking about, but then I saw one of them had a knife and he started jabbing it at me.

"Another had a big metal pole and was saying 'give me the money.'

"They came running past me, opened the till, and grabbed bottles of spirits and cigarettes, while one of them guarded the door.

"I was shaking with fear, I thought they were going to kill me. I was saying 'don't hurt me, don't hurt me.'

"Two of them went out of the door and I took the opportunity to run outside. I just wanted to get out. I ran up the road screaming for help."

Neighbours dashed to her aid and her son-in-law, Sam Patefield, tried to give chase but the gang had fled on foot.

Mrs Knowles said: "People are saying I was brave, but I don't feel brave. I was terrified.

"I am scared but I am determined to keep working. The people who did this are absolute cowards and they need to be brought to justice."

The gang is thought to have escaped with about £100 in cash, plus spirits and cigarettes valued at around £200, during the raid which happened at around 8pm on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Bradford District CID, said: "This was a nasty robbery, targeting a lone and vulnerable woman member of staff, who was extremely shaken by it.

"We are studying CCTV footage of the incident and making house to house inquiries and we are very keen to hear from anyone who has any information about the robbery."

One of the suspects is described as a light-skinned Asian man in his 20s, very skinny, and 5ft 7ins tall. He was wearing a black tracksuit top with yellow stripes down the sleeves and dark tracksuit bottoms.

The second suspect was a chubby Asian man in his 20s, and 5ft 4ins tall. He was wearing dark jeans, a navy blue shellsuit top and a black scarf round his face.

The third man was aged 18, skinny, and 5ft 1ins, with black jeans, grey jacket, a black hood and a scarf over his mouth.

The fourth suspect was also Asian.

Anyone with information should contact Bradford District CID via 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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