A KNIFE-WIELDING robber burst into an off licence and threatened workers behind the counter.

Managers Subash and Jatinder Sirpal threw bottles of vodka at the man, who was carrying a seven-inch blade, when he started yelling at them to open the till.

Police arrived minutes after the robbery at the Gill off licence, in Pelham Road, Daisyfield, Blackburn, after being alerted by one of the owners’ 11-year-old son, who had watched the drama unfold on a tv screen linked to the shop’s CCTV cameras upstairs.

Brave Rithick Sirpal was praised for keeping calm and calling the police as soon as he realised what was happening.

The youngster, who lives above the shop with his family, said he was terrified for his uncle and dad when he saw the intruder on the family tv which is hooked up to the CCTV system.

The former Daisyfield Primary School pupil, who will start at Pleckgate High School in September, said: “I had just put my bike away and I was about to watch some cartoons.

“But then I saw the man come into the shop on the screen.

“First he just looked through the window to see if anybody was there, but then he came in with a knife and I heard him say ‘open the till’.

“I was really shocked and I was enraged too.

“I told my mum that something was happening downstairs.

“I was terrified.

“I saw my dad get two bottles of vodka and throw them at the robber.

“The man then picked them up and ran away with them.”

The man was described as being white and around 6ft tall with a slim build.

He is thought to be in his mid 20s and was wearing a blue jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Jatinder said: “When the man came in he shouted at us to open the till.

“I told him to just wait and picked up some bottles and threw them at him.

“We were really shocked.

“When he came in, I thought he was joking.

“It is bad that something like this has happened when you work so hard to run your business.”

Jatinder said he was pleased the incident, which happened at around 6.30pm on Wednesday, had not happened moments earlier, when a woman was in the shop with a child buying groceries.

Subash said: “My nephew is a hero, he called the police and they only took minutes to come.

“We have been here five years and we have never had anything like this before.”

Det Sgt Julie Cross, from Blackburn CID said: “Fortunately the owners were not hurt and their bravery in challenging the offender resulted in him making a quick getaway.

“If anyone can help us track this man down then I would ask them to call the police.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who witnessed what happened to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Blackburn CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.