NEIGHBOURING shop workers today spoke of their safety fears after an armed raid at an off-licence.

Staff reopened Booze Buster in Blackburn Road, Accrington, yesterday -- a day after two people were held at knifepoint by a raider.

They told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph they had been instructed not to talk about their colleagues' terrifying ordeal.

A man wielding a large kitchen knife entered the store at 8pm on Monday, demanding cash but fled empty-handed.

Now neighbouring workers fear their safety could be in jeopardy.

Blackburn Road boasts many takeaways and convenience stores -- all open long hours.

One shop assistant, who asked not to be named, said: "It has been getting more and more dangerous here. "We don't see the police enough. People come in and are rude and rowdy and there is nothing we can do. I hope this incident prompts the police to take more of an interest in our street."

An assistant at a takeaway closer to the town centre added: "When drunks come in here at night, they threaten and abuse us and it is scary.

"If you work in the town centre, you are more likely to be protected by the police than here. People seem to see this area as a soft touch."

Local councillor Ken Curtis said: "The area is due to be redeveloped but if someone is determined enough to commit a crime they will do it anywhere. Perhaps the police should come here more often. Local residents can always express their concerns at the Blackburn Road Residents' Association."

A police spokesman said: "It is not right to say an area is forgotten."

Blackburn Road is pioneering an 'eyes and ears' scheme where local people are urged to tip off the police about crimes they hear about or the people who committed them.

Accrington CID said they were continuing to investigate the robbery.

Nobody at Booze Buster's Warrington head office was available to comment about the incident, while the firm's area sales manager for East Lancashire, Frank Romarno, was said to be 'uncontactable.'