A SHOPKEEPER has spoken of his terror after knife-wielding robbers burst into his store and threatened to kill him.

The hoodie-clad raiders, whose faces were covered by scarves, brandished the six-inch blade and reached into the till, making off with cash and cigarettes.

Police confirmed an investigation has been launched to find the attackers and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Councillors said they were ‘extremely shocked’ by the incident and called for harsher punishments to be handed out in the courts.

Fazal-Ur-Rehman, 40, who runs the White Landers Food Store, on the corner of Brunswick Street, and Chapel Edge Road, Nelson, said the two robbers entered the shop at 8pm on Tuesday.

According to the shopkeeper, the pair made off with £550 from the till and cigarettes worth £375.

Mr Rehman, who has been at the helm of the family-business for the last three years, said: “The first one, who looked like a young lad, came in and reached over the counter. He pulled out a knife and told me to put my hands up.

“He then asked me to open the till and started grabbing money out. After that he started grabbing cigarettes and handing them to the other lad, who came in behind him.”

Mr Rehman said the pair, dressed in black hooded-tops, also smashed the electronic terminal, used for mobile phone and gas card top-ups.

He added: “When they left, one of them told me if I followed them, he would kill me. I was very scared, especially when he pulled the knife out.”

The shopkeeper said the pair of robbers were seen in a group of four or five, running up the hill, in Brunswick Street, immediately after the incident.

He added: “Their parents should ask them where they get the money from to pay for drugs. I would like to request that people look after their kids to make society more peaceful.”

Clover Hill ward Coun Eileen Ansar, said: “I am extremely shocked by this. I don’t like to hear of anything like this happening in the ward.

“I think criminals are being dealt with too leniently in the courts and the sentencing should be stronger.

“We have two community police officers in the area, but crime is increasing at the moment, so we could do with more.”

Det Cons Neil Morris, of Nelson Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “It was a knifepoint robbery, so it isn’t something the shopkeeper will experience everyday.

“If anybody has seen anyone dressed in black hooded-tops, going into the shop then we would urge them to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the attack should contact Nelson CID on 01282 472618 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.