A FAMILY business is tightening its security in a bid to protect staff following an armed robbery.

Syd Brown's garage, which has been running for 20 years in Longridge, was targeted by a robber who entered the garage forecourt with a handgun on Sunday night.

Now company bosses are considering closing earlier or incorporating a hatch system to serve petrol station customers after dark.

Phil Holden, garage director, said: "We are a family firm in a rural area and the founders were brought up in this area.

"We run a friendly service that our customers appreciate but now I'm sad to say it's turning into an inner city environment.

"We are going to have to adopt the security measures of city garages and it's a real shame. We are now looking at the possibility of serving customers through a hatch or shutting earlier than 10pm because we don't want to put our staff at risk."

The part-time member of staff on duty on Sunday night was a man in his early 20s.

Mr Holden said: "He was very shocked but he wasn't hurt and he's a strong, intelligent man so I'm sure he will be fine."

The robber, described as Afro-Caribbean, five feet seven inches tall, of medium build, made off down Berry Lane with the till containing £70 in cash.

Two people, including an employee at the forecourt, were in the shop at the time.

Mr Holden said: "Luckily our money goes down into a floor safe through tubes so we only have a float of £70 at any given time."

The garage was targeted 13 months ago when a knifeman entered the adjoining car garage, locked a member of the staff in the building and escaped with cash and cigarettes.

Despite two robberies at the garage, Longridge's main road is quiet.

A member of staff from Spar, next door to the garage, said: "We've never had anything like this before on the street."

Cath Briggs, manager of Swifts Hardware, said: "You'd never think like something like this could happen here. It's very scary."

Elaine Duckett, worker at Maureen Cousin womenswear, said: "We've had the odd window smashed but you never imagine something as serious as a hold-up could happen here."

Police are still investigating the incident.

Sgt Neil Haworth of Blackburn Police said: "We are currently making enquiries and reviewing video evidence and talking to witnesses."