STAFF at a village store were threatened by a knifeman demanding money.

The man, whose face was partly covered by his jacket, got away with the contents of a till following the armed hold-up at a shop in Wheelton, near Chorley.

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses to Sunday evening’s robbery. The man went into Higher Wheelton Store on Blackburn Road — a general store and newsagents — and made demands for money.

He left with an amount of cash which has not been disclosed and got into a black Ford Fiesta parked on Jenny Lane at around 5.25pm. The robber was white, around 5ft 3ins, slim and had short, dark spiky hair.

He was wearing a black and blue horizontally striped T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a thin black jacket. He spoke with a local accent.

The Fiesta driver was a white man and thought to be aged between 25 and 35. He had a large build, substantial dark stubble and straggly dark hair.

Det Sgt Damian Barrow said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact the police.

“We are carrying out a number of enquiries including checking local CCTV. We are also conducting house-to-house inquiries in a bid to find the people responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Leyland CID on 101 quoting log reference number 1433 of Sunday, July 14.

Alternatively, ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via Crimestoppers-uk.org