A TERRIFIED shop owner was threatened by a man with a gun who demanded money.

The owner of Sunny Convenience Store and Off Licence was in his shop in Booth Road in Little Lever on Wednesday evening when the man came in.

He explained: “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.”

It appeared that the gunman became startled and ran off in the direction of Mytham Road.

A member of the owner’s family, who was in their home above the shop while the incident unfolded, then called the police.

Police confirmed that they were called to the property at 5.48pm and investigations are ongoing.

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

He explained: “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 shop remained open on Wednesday evening and on Thursday.

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.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 and quote the reference number 1663 for the 21st December 2016.