SHOPPERS were terrified when a masked gunman forced a woman to hand over cash and cigarattes on Sunday night at an Astley store.

Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery at the Alldays store on Coach Road which happened soon after 9pm.

A man went into the Cross Hillock shop armed with what has been described as a handgun and threatened the 37-year-old female supervisor who was forced to hand over a quantity of cash and cigarettes. He then left the shop and ran away towards Higher Green Lane.

The robber is described as white and between 5'8" and 6'0" tall. He spoke with a Manchester accent and had a very large flat nose. He was wearing a salmon pink coloured jumper, navy blue adidas tracksuit bottoms with black trainers with metallic Reebok logos. He wore a stocking pulled over his face and also wore a black woollen hat.

Police said: "At the time of the incident a number of customers were in the shop. They were left very frightened and shaken by what they saw.

"We have a very detailed description of the offender and would like to know where he went after he left the shop."

If anyone does have information they can contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7252 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.