A SHOP assistant today told how he feared for his life after coming face-to-face with a knife-wielding robber who demanded cash from his till.

Saleem Urrehman, 19, was working in the newsagent section of his brother's sub post office, in Hebrew Road, Burnley, yesterday morning when the raid took place.

The teenager was confronted by two white men who held a knife to his throat and demanded the cash before being punched in the face.

He said: "I opened at 7.30am and it was about 8.10am when it happened. I was just sitting behind the counter when two white men came in. One of them asked me for 10 Lambert and Butler cigarettes.

"I turned round to get them from behind me and when I turned back he had a knife at my throat. He told me to empty the till and I obviously just did what they said. It all only took about two to three minutes.

"It was very quick and I was fearing for my life. My mind was all over the place and I don't think I really knew what to do.

"It was very frightening and I was scared of what they would do. I am still shivering and feel very insecure being in the shop now. The police took descriptions of the two men but I don't think they were local from their accents."

The men, described as white and aged 28 to 30 years, escaped with around £1,500 in cash and mobile phone top-up vouchers.

Saleem suffered a burst lip but was not seriously injured in the incident.

Ward councillor Mozaquir Ali urged members of the community to contact the police if they saw anything. He said: "I was very sorry to hear what happened. The people at the post office are local and really good lads.

"They are carrying out a tremendous service for local people and I am just glad this didn't result in anything more serious, or even a loss of life.

"I passed the post office at about 7.55am but everything was quiet then. It is not a busy street at that time but soon gets busier later so it looks like it has been well organised.

"This is the first time anything like this has happened at the post office. It is a serious matter and I am sure the police will take it seriously."

The post office and shop re-opened as usual today. Police investigations are continuing and anyone with information should contact the police on 01282 425001.