Masked man steals cash from Lees Village Service Station in gunpoint robbery

The robber entered family-run firm Lees Village Service Station on St John Street at around 9am and got the weapon out before demanding the staff members to hand over cash from the till.

After grabbing the money, the culprit, described as a white man in his 20s and around 5"8 tall, left the store on foot.

The two workers were not injured but were shaken up.

Stuart Collinge, husband of one of the owners, said: "The guy was on foot and arrived at the station and produced a gun and demanded the money.

"He then took the money and left.

"He was wearing a medical face mask, a green hoodie with the hood up and grey jogging bottoms.

"The staff are fine and are at home now.

"It was horrible. Thankfully it was an isolated incident.

"It doesn't matter about the money as long as the staff are OK."

No arrests have been made, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.

A force spokesman said: "We were called shortly before 9.10am to a report of a gunpoint robbery at a store on St John Street, Lees.

"Specialist officers attended but no suspects were found.

"Thankfully no-one was injured but store workers were left understandably shaken.

"Initial enquiries at the scene have continued and an investigation is underway."

Saddleworth West and Lees councillor Sam Al Hamdani has shared his sympathy for the business.

He said: "It is horrific for something like this to happen to the station at this particular time of the day.

"The staff must have been shaken up.

"I have a huge amount of sympathy for the staff. 

"They are a really community business.

"The amount of people who turned out for Frank's funeral (the station's popular owner who died in July) was incredible.

"The station is at the heart of the community."

Anyone with information should contact police online, if able, or call 101 quoting incident 785 of October 15.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.