A MAN armed with a penknife left two Rossendale business owners shaken after he demanded money from them.

Rachel Roberts, 23, was chopping salad behind the counter, while her mother Carole, 61, read the newspaper in the dining area, at 8.30am yesterday.

The business partners had just opened up M and D’s Sandwich Bar, in Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, when a man wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife entered the shop.

He approached Rachel and told her he needed money to get to Haslingden as he pointed the penknife towards her.

Carole went over to the man and stood between him and Rachel to protect her.

She told the man they only had £10 because they had only just opened the shop.

He threatened her and said ‘Are you sure? I don’t want to have to come over and use this’,” said Carole.

Rachel handed over the money, and the man left.

She said: “It wasn’t until I was in the police station afterwards that I realised what had just happened and I started shaking.

“I just couldn’t believe what had happened.

”We’ve only been open seven weeks and I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”

Carole said: “I didn’t want to give him any of our money.

“I just wanted to protect Rachel.

“It’s a mother’s instinct.”

Five minutes before the attack, the same man threatened the owner of Affordable Pet Foods, in Gaghills Road, who had no money to give him.

Police arrested a 36-year-old man shortly after the incidents.

He was being quizzed last night.

Inspector John Fryer, of Rossendale Police, said: “Even though he only got £10, it doesn’t matter about the amount of money he got.

“Robbery at knifepoint is a very serious offence.

“It must have been a frightening experience for the victims.

“We have the man we believe committed the crimes at the station and are questioning him.”