DETECTIVES are stepping up their hunt for an armed raider who burst into a grocer's store and attacked the owner.

CCTV footage is being checked by police and forensic analysts are examining evidence.

The raider entered Yasir Off Licence, Brownhill Avenue, Burnley at 9pm on Monday and struck shop owner Mehboob Hussain, 46, with the butt of a firearm. The men struggled and the gunman fired a shot into the air before he was bombarded by bottles by Mehboob's wife, Sajida Parveen, 37.

The attacker made off without taking anything.

Mehboob was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment to his wounds and received several stitches to the back of his head. Detective Sergeant Pete Simm said: "We are studying CCTV footage. "We are doing everything in our power to catch this man."

The gunman is described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 10ins, medium build, wearing a black baseball cap with a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face.

Anybody with information can contact Burnley CID on 01282 472142 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.