THIS is the menacing shop raider armed with a machete and a knife who was seen off by two brave shop workers pelting him with produce.

These exclusive security images show the hooded robber wielding an axe in his right hand and a blade in his left as he chopped and slashed at employees inside Welcome Stores Premier in Plodder Lane, Farnworth.

The thief and an accomplice were seen off by Pete Moody and Prafulla Patel.

Mr Moody suffered a wound to his right hand in the process and required stitches.

The Bolton News reported yesterday how the two raiders burst into the convenience store at 7.05am on Monday.

The armed raider, who was grasping the knife and later whipped out the axe in the middle of the melee, ran up to the counter.

He demanded the workers hand over cash from the till, threatening to harm them if they failed to comply.

Meanwhile the second robber darted into the stockroom, forced open the office door and picked up the small black safe.

Mr Moody and Ms Patel stood their ground and fought back against the armed suspect by pelting him with anything they could get their hands on including packets of sweets.

The axe and knife-wielding thief can be seen in the CCTV stills trying to avoid the goods being thrown at him by shielding his face.

He eventually turned and fled and Mr Moody held the door closed after he left.

Then the second robber ran down the chilled food aisle and barged Mr Moody into the wall as he escaped from the store.

Shop owner Kishore Patel, who was not present when the armed robbery happened, said the whole incident lasted about 25 seconds.

The safe was abandoned in a back alley close to the shop with its door bent.

Greater Manchester Police are continuing to investigate the raid.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101.