A HEROIC shop worker fought off armed robbers - despite being stabbed in the arm.

Two masked men went into Mercury Service Station in Manchester Road, Westhoughton, yesterday at 1.20am.

One of the men, who was brandishing a knife, threatened the man with it and prodded his arm each time he tried to fight them off.

The shop worker took off one of his shoes and grabbed a glass jar to fight the robbers off.

The criminals backed off and fled empty handed within seconds.

The victim received 12 stitches to two puncture wounds to his arm.

Both of the suspects were black men. The man with the knife was about 6ft tall, of medium build and in his early to mid 20s. His accomplice was about 5ft 9ins tall and of medium build.

Detectives are looking to trace a woman who walked into the store seconds before the incident and is thought to have witnessed the attempted robbery.

Det Cons Malcolm Cheetham said: "This man's heroic actions meant that these thieves were able to get away empty handed, but for his trouble he was wounded.

"We will do all we can to find the men responsible.

"We are appealing for witnesses but in particular we need to hear from the woman who walked in only moments before but didn’t stick around to give the police her account - probably because she was so shaken up.

"We need to find out everything that she may have heard or seen, including before the robbery. We urge her to get in touch as soon as possible."

People with information can call the police on 0161 856 1527 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.