A 34-year-old man has been charged following an alleged attempted armed robbery at an off-licene on Friday, January 27, in Astley Bridge.

Shane Rhodes, of Claremont Court, Bolton, has been charged with two counts of robbery, possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.

It is alleged he entered the Bridge Wine and News store in Blackburn Road wielding a knife and ordered the shop owner, Imtiyaz Ahmed to empty the till.

It's alleged Mr Ahmed refused and a struggle broke out, before a friend and a fellow businessman of the alleged victim managed to detain the alleged robber until police arrived.

No one was injured in the incident.

A spokesperson for Bolton North police said: “Greater Manchester Police charge a man in connection with an attempted armed robbery of a shop in Bolton.

“Shane Rhodes, 34, of Claremont Court, Bolton, has been charged with two counts of robbery, possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.

“He has been remanded into custody to appear at Bolton Magistrates on Monday, January 30.

“On Friday, January 27, at around 9.35am, GMP were called to reports of a robbery at a premises on Blackburn Road, Bolton.

“A swift response by GMP resulted in a man being arrested at the scene.”