A TAKEAWAY shop assistant has told how he thought he was going to die when armed robbers fired a gun at his back.

The victim said two men walked into Chester’s Chicken and Pizza, Copy Nook, Blackburn, carrying what appeared to be a handgun, wrapped up in a plastic carrier bag.

Placing the bag on the counter, they said: “Fill the bag”, leading the lone assistant to call out urgently to colleagues in the back for help. When he turned his back to his asssailants, they fired three shots with what is now believed to be an air gun, before fleeing empty handed.

Two of the shots narrowly missed him, but the third caused painful bruising to his lower back.

Sajjd Shabbir, 30, told how during the attack he was filled with thoughts of his family and plans for his future.

He hasbeen married for just over a year, and is originally from London but lives in Blackburn near the takeaway.

He wants to complete his studies for a Masters degree in Finance and Business with universities in either Manchester or Preston.

Mr Shabbir said: “My other colleague had just stepped out for a minute, so I was by myself.

“When the two guys came in they were acting really strange and were looking past me to see if anyone else was in the shop with me. “When they unwrapped the gun and told me to fill the bag, I just called out for help.

“I thought it might frighten them off.

“Then they just started firing shots. I remember thinking it might be the last sound I ever heard, then one got me in the back. Later on, all I could think about was my family and my future, and what if it had been a real gun.”

Detectives are appealing for information about the shooting at 4.30pm on Thursday and have released a description of the men, who were both white. One was aged 26, about 5ft 9ins tall and was wearing a white coloured hooded tracksuit.

The second was aged between 20 and 24, was approximately 5ft 6ins tall, of a large build and a round face. He was wearing a black hooded Timberland tracksuit top.

Anyone with information can call Blackburn police on 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log reference LC-20080611-1641.