Cashier left shocked by petrol station raid

SCENE of robbery . . . Police at the Co-Op filling station at Lees

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A LEES petrol station was the target of a terrifying knife attack yesterday morning.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said they received a call shortly after 8.15am following reports a man brandishing a knife had burst into the shop and threatened staff at the Texaco garage next to the Co-op store in Athens Way.

After the cashier refused to hand over cash he fled the scene with a charity box.

Lees Co-op deputy manager Matt Whitehead was on duty in the neighbouring store at the time of the incident and was alerted by a taxi driver who witnessed the incident from the forecourt.

He said luckily the staff member involved was unhurt but had been left traumatised by the attack.

"I went to the petrol station and the member of staff was on the phone to the police as I arrived," he said.

"She was obviously very shaken and upset. I went back into the store to get my manager and locked the gates to the petrol station. We stayed with her until the police arrived. This was a frightening attack and the area manager has been alerted."

The police spokeswoman said a man was later arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Anybody with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 397 of 07/06/17, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.