THIS is the moment terrified supermarket staff were threatened by a ‘drunk’ robber with a bread knife after they refused to sell him alcohol.

Workers at the Blackburn Tesco store have been hailed ‘heroes’ for confronting the man before he turned violent and stole the goods.

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Detectives said they were concerned about how far the robber would go to get his hands on alcohol.

Det sgt Eric Halford, from Blackburn CID, said: “This man used a large knife to facilitate the theft of just a few bottles of alcohol, so I am genuinely worried what else he is capable of.

“It is for everyone’s safety that we get this person off the streets as soon as possible.”

The workers had already asked the man to leave the store earlier in the evening because they thought he had had too much to drink.

But police said he returned later in the evening, took two bottles of alcohol off the shelves and tried to take them through the self-service tills.

When the night manager and a security guard at the Hill Street shop again told him he was not allowed to buy the drink, he pulled the large knife from his right sleeve and threatened to stab them.

He then left without paying.

Investigators have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the robbery and are appealing for anybody who recognises him to come forward.

The robber was wearing a distinctive black and white cap with Al Pacino on the front of it as his Scar Face character Tony Montana, Police said they were called to the supermarket around 1.20am on Saturday to reports of a disturbance.

They were told how the man had gone back into the shop and picked up a bottle of Lambrini Rose and another of Southern Comfort despite having been told earlier he would not be served.

When he pulled out the weapon, the staff, who were worried they might be stabbed, moved out of his way and the robber got away without paying.

A Tesco spokesman said the workers had been left terrified by their ordeal.

He said: “This was clearly a traumatic incident for our colleagues, who acted heroically, and we are glad that no-one was hurt. “We will be assisting the police with their investigation.”

Police are now asking for anybody who might recognise the man in the images or know who is responsible to call them.

He is described as being in his early 20s, slim and white. He was wearing black trousers, a black shirt, light-coloured jacket and black trainers.

Det Sgt Halford said: “The CCTV images are very good and I have no doubt someone will recognise him, so I would ask that they look to their conscience and contact us with his details.

“Police have as yet been unable to identify the man and so we are appealing for anyone who knows him to come and provide us with details.”

Anybody with information should call police on 101 quoting log reference LC-20140906-0115 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.