A BRAVE shop worker tried to tackle a robber armed with a metal bar who tried to raid a newsagents on Christmas Day.

Police have released CCTV footage of the festive thief who robbed Moses Gate Newsagents in Bolton Road, Farnworth, at about 2.15pm.

He waited for the female shop assistant, who tried to tackle him as he left, to open the till before leaning over the counter brandishing a metal bar, grabbing £60 and fleeing.

The robber is white, in his early 20s, slim, with short, brown mousy hair.

He was wearing a black hoodie, with white writing down one sleeve and a logo on the left breast, and black jogging bottoms with "Warrior" written on the left leg.

Det Con Malcolm Cheetham said: “This was not an opportunistic crime, this was planned and the offender went equipped to threaten and possibly attack the shopkeeper if he stood in his way.

“Fortunately no one was hurt.

“This abhorrent individual left his house on Christmas day to rob an innocent victim, the antithesis of what the festive season is all about."

Anyone with information can call police on 101.