AN ARMED robber pulled his jumper over his face before threatening a terrified assistant at an off licence.

The robber pointed a handgun at the assistant then demanded money at The Wine Shop, Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors, at around 9.15pm on Saturday.,

Another man stood in the doorway acting as a lookout during the incident, which the left the 32-year-old shop assistant badly shaken.

After being handed the takings the offenders fled the shop taking two bottles of whisky and made off towards Barnes Square.

The man carrying the gun is described as white, 5ft 7in, aged 25, with short hair and was wearing a blue jumper and combat trousers. The lookout is described as white, 5ft 10in and of larger than average build.

DC Tony Woodworth of Accrington CID said: "This is a very serious incident involving a weapon being pointed at the shop assistant and it has left him extremely shaken.

"We're keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed it or seen anyone acting suspiciously in area before or after.

"This street and Barnes Square are usually very busy at this time because there are a number of shops so we hope someone will come forward."

The shop was targeted in November 1999 when a knife-wielding robber wearing a devil Hallowe'en mask threatened the shop assistant after she refused to hand over the takings. Ward councillor and community safety portfolio holder Janet Storey said: "The police are doing the best they can, there's always quite a high police presence in that area.

"Barnes Street isn't the community it used to be. Nobody knows anybody else on that street any more. It's full of rented property and boarded up houses. But the square itself has two pubs, two takeaways and two late stores so it would have been busy. It's never quiet there."

DC Richard Holmes, of Great Harwood CID, said: "The CCTV goes up Pickup Street and down Barnes Street. We are in the process of viewing the film but at this stage we don't know whether there is anything on it."

Anyone with information is asked to call Accrington Police on 01254 382141 or 0800 555111.