TWO armed raiders who brought terror to their local garage have both been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard drunken and drugged-up Darren Fell, 25, and Craig Parkinson, 22, who held-up the Accrington Road Service station armed with hammers, were never going to get away with the crime.

They were customers at the service station, close-ups of their faces were captured on CCTV and they knew their victim, Naeem Farza.

The court was told how Mr Farza was ordered to open the till or his face would be smashed in. Both defendants retreated "like cowards" when he reached for a metal bar, but made off with cigarettes worth £100 in the process.

Fell and Parkinson, both of Brush Street, Burnley, admitted robbery on November 3. Fell, who was in breach of a suspended sentence was jailed for a total of three years and Parkinson got two years nine months.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the duo:"People who attack and try and rob proprietors like these must receive lengthy custodial sentences. I have got to punish you and have got to deter others."

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court Mr Farza was at the petrol station on his own at 8.30pm, when the defendants turned up. He asked them if they were alright and they then produced hammers from their jackets.

Mr Farza was told his face would be smashed in if he didn't open the till. The victim thought he was going to be attacked, was very frightened and tried to tell the defendants they would be caught on CCTV.

Miss Statham said Mr Farza managed to press the panic button and reached over the till for a small metal bar. Both defendants retreated, but not before they had taken the cigarettes. Mr Farza was left in shock after the incident. Both Fell and Parkinson had criminal records.

John Woodward for Fell, said he had built up a formidable record, but this was by far the most serious offence he had ever committed. There was no pre-planning and it just seemed to happen on the spur of the moment.

The barrister added: "I know its absolutely no excuse, but he was heavily intoxicated. My instructions are he has no recollection at all. You can see him staggering about on the video. He was befuddled with a cocktail of alcohol and drugs."

For Parkinson, Sergey Prokofiev said the defendant had also been heavily intoxicated and had been under the influence of drugs and prescribed medication.