DRAMATIC footage of an armed robber pointing a gun at the head of an off-licence owner has been released by police.

The thief - dressed in a black Adidas top with the hood tightly drawn, black Adidas jogging bottoms, back trainers and back gloves - carried out the unsuccessful hold-up at Sunny Convenience Store and Off Licence in Booth Road, Little Lever.

He entered the store and paced around, looking briefly at the shelves of wine, before turning back and producing a handgun from the right pocket of his top.

He brandished the weapon at the owner stood behind the counter and demanded money, gesturing to the till with the firearm.

The owner reached down underneath the till - to grab a bottle of water - but this seem to startle the gun-wielding intruder.

The owner rushed out from behind the counter and the would-be robber fled empty-handed in the direction of Mythem Road.

The Bolton News: SCENE: The shop in Little Lever where the incident happened

It happened at 5.40pm on Wednesday December 21 but detectives have only just released CCTV video of the raid.

The owner, who did not wish to be identified, told The Bolton News at the time: "I was just here like I usually am and the next thing this man came in and came up to the counter and started pointing a gun at me.

"He was telling me to give him money.

"I was terrified I didn’t know what to do.

"I thought he could have shot me so I got down on the floor behind the counter."

The distressed owner said he had owned the business for a year and never had any issues before.

He said: “Sometimes there are children banging on the windows and door but nothing like this.

"You don’t expect this to happen to you. I am still terrified and scared, my children and my family are worried.

"My children have been saying to me, dad we did not expect this to happen here, I am astonished."

Despite the ordeal the owner kept his store open the same evening and the following day.

He said: “Even though I am scared I still have to open the shop because it is our livelihood, I don’t want the customers to see the shutters down and think that we are shut because they might not come back."

It was a member of the owner’s family, who was in their flat above the shop while the incident unfolded, who called the police.

Detective Constable Pam Chandler said: “Fortunately, the man wasn’t injured in the robbery but the fear the offender instilled in him will stay with him.

“This man used extreme violence to target a small business and we will not tolerate this.

“We have launched an investigation and I would urge you to come forward if you can help us.

“If anyone recognises the man in the CCTV or has any information about the robbery, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

n Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5619 or 101 quoting reference number 1663 of 21/12/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.