A YOUNG mum has told of the terrifying moment she came face to face with two knife-wielding robbers.

Louise Arnfield was working at a Blackburn off-licence when she was attacked by the two men armed with kitchen knives.

The 21-year-old mother-of-one said the ordeal has left her too scared to return to work and she is now considering quitting her job.

Louse has worked for the Booze Buster chain for the last three years but was transferred to the Blackburn shop just two weeks ago.

Two hooded men walked into the shop in Burnley Road, Whitebirk, around 9pm on Thursday night. Both were armed with knives and were screaming threats at the young shop assistant.

Louise, who lives in the Blackburn Road area of Accrington, said: "They just kept shouting at me and throwing me round the shop.

"It was a very, very frightening experience and I don't know if I will be able to go back to work after what happened.

"They were screaming at me about the safe but I couldn't help them, I honestly thought they were going to stab me."

She added: "This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me and all I could think was to do what they told me.

"There was no way I was going to put up a fight because they looked like the sort of people who would seriously hurt you. "It was the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me and it is going to take me a long time to get over the whole thing."

A small amount of cash was stolen and the thieves also escaped with around £600-worth of cigarettes.

Police believe another man was waiting in a car outside the shop and have launched a hunt for the trio of suspects.

They are also looking for a car fitting the description of the getaway vehicle which was stolen from Morrisons car park on Thursday afternoon.

The dark green Austin Montego was seen driving off from the scene at high speed shortly after the robbery.

Detective Sergeant Rob Campbell of Blackburn CID said: "Fortunately this young woman wasn't seriously hurt in the robbery but she was left badly shaken and hurt. "These men are obviously dangerous and not afraid to use violence."

The two robbers both wore dark clothing, hooded tops, were white and were in their early 20s.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious at the time of the robbery or at the car park should contact Blackburn CID on 01254 51212 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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