A SHOP manager has praised his staff for keeping calm during a robbery at a Whitefield shop.

Four masked men burst into the G & E Spar store in Ribble Drive shortly before 9.30pm last Wednesday (February 25) and threatened two workers with a hammer and a crowbar.

They ordered a male member of staff to open the till and then put £1,000 cash into a white bin bag.

The raiders then emptied the cigarette display and stashed cigarettes worth £7,000 in the bag, police said.

One of the gang then attempted to enter a back room, but a female member of staff managed to get into the room and lock the door, preventing the raiders from accessing it.

The raiders then fled with their items

Store manager Colin Higson said: "Thankfully, no one was injured.

"The staff were brilliant and did everything you are supposed to do in such a horrible situation.

"It was a terrible thing to happen but both of them have showed resilience."

Police said the men were white, and wore black clothing and black gloves, with their faces covered.

Any witnesses to the incident, or anyone with information, is asked to call police on 101.