POLICE are hunting two armed masked raiders who terrified a female shop assistant by threatening her with a knife and a meat cleaver.

The two thugs went into the off-licence on Atherton Road in Hindley Green, at 7pm, four days before Christmas -- Thursday December 21.

The knifeman leapt over the counter and forced the 31-year-old shop assistant to kneel on the floor.

The two men escaped with £200 in cash and a quantity of phone cards.

They were spotted escaping in a red T-registered VW Golf which police are keen to trace.

Both raiders are white, around 5ft 6ins and aged in their late 20s, of medium build and spoke with Leigh accents.

DC Ian O'Connell, of Leigh CID, said: "We are particularly concerned about the severity of this incident.

"The use of two weapons, one of which was a large butcher-style meat cleaver was a terrifying experience for the lone female shop assistant. During the incident, the behaviour of the two men was also excessively aggressive and we are concerned not only that they may strike again, but that next time the consequences will be more severe.

"Someone knows who these two men are and we implore you to come forward and identify them before their actions lead them to commit a worse crime."

Anyone with information should contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7352 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.