TWO men smashed up a corner shop with a baseball bat before they were chased out by the owner.

Police are on the hunt for the pair who were caught on CCTV walking into A and Z News in Westhoughton just before 7pm on Saturday.

As soon as they entered the store, one man, wearing a grey hooded top, hit the monitor and shelving unit next to the counter several times, terrifying owner Raj Singh who was in at the time.

Mr Singh got up and chased both of them out of the store before calling the police.

He said: "They came into the store and just started smashing everything with a baseball bat.

"I was at the counter and I just stood up and they began to run out. I tried to catch them but they got away.

"It was awful and it all happened quite fast. I was lucky that they did not come to the counter and ask for the money.

"I have my little boy here with me and he is only five years old. Something like that could have traumatised him."

The attack left Mr Singh with a damaged shelving unit and the monitor next to the counter has been cracked.

He said the incident has probably cost him up to £200, which he said was a lot for a small newsagents.

Cllr David Wilkinson, who shared the CCTV footage over social media, said: "In anything like this, it is traumatic for the shop worker.

"There will be a worry now every time the door goes especially at night time. It is not a nice feeling."

A spokesman from Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the store at about 7pm on Saturday and efforts were being made to track the perpetrators down.

This is one of several incidents that have taken place in Westhoughton in recent months.

Four men were recently arrested after Hays Travel in Market Street was robbed by people with axes.

Anyone with information on the incident at A and Z News or who noticed anything suspicious in the area at the time should call police on 101 quoting reference number 1698 of February 10.