Greater Manchester Police have released CCTV images after two men, armed with planks of wood, robbed a petrol station shop in Wigan.

At about 5.45am on Wednesday 7 October two men burst into the Co-op shop at the Texaco petrol station on Manchester Road in Astley. Both were carrying planks of wood with nails in.

One man waited at the shop door while the other threatened the shop workers and demanded money from the till. After a short struggle between the man and the shop workers the offenders fled with cash and cigarettes, in the direction of Withington Common.

The cash was later recovered on Withington Common. The first man is described as white, about 20-years-old, about 5ft 4in tall, of slim build, and was wearing a black and white hooded top, dark trousers and had his face covered. He spoke with a local accent.

The second man is described as being of similar height and build to the first man and was wearing dark clothing. He also spoke with a local accent.

Detective sergeant Lee Shaw of Wigan division said: “To be confronted by two men armed with planks of wood must have been terrifying for the shop-workers.

“I want to make sure these men don’t target any more innocent people and I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw two men matching the descriptions on Withington Common shortly afterwards, to contact police.

Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 7225 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.