A ROBBER armed with a gun tricked his way into house before demanding cash from the owner.

The raider knocked at the door of a house in Derby Street, Nelson, and told the 45-year-old owner, who has not been named, he needed water for his car.

The householder went to fill a plastic bottle with water and as he turned round he found the robber, who had the lower part of his face covered, pointing what appeared to be an air gun or revolver at him.

The raider shouted: "I want your money" but when the householder refused the robber grabbed the bottle and ran from the house empty-handed. No shots were fired and the householder was shaken but unhurt.

The man ran off along Derby Street towards Bankhouse Road. He is white, in his late 30s or early 40s, around 5ft 8ins tall with short, blond hair. He was wearing a black "puffa-type" jacket.

Anyone in the area who saw anyone acting suspiciously, or a car with its bonnet up, is asked to contact Nelson CID on 01282 472644. The incident happened around 6pm on Wednesday.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.