Robbers pointed gun at boy, 10

The youngster was standing by the counter at the store in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, when two men burst in as his mother was in a back room.

One of the robbers brandished the firearm and told the boy to open the till. The raiders also banged on the glass of the counter at Edge Lane Post Office before they eventually made off with a small amount of cash at about 9.15am on Saturday, May 1.

Detective Sergeant Jed Stubbs, based at Ashton CID, said: "It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could hold a gun to the head of an innocent child and we are determined to catch the man who did this.

"Incidents like this are very rare so we expect that somebody will have noticed these men either before or after – if you did please contact me."

The first offender was described as white, aged between 20 and 22, 5ft 9in and of slim build. He was wearing a dark long sleeved top, dark jeans, black ski mask, and a woollen hat with flaps covering the ears and was carrying a black plastic string bag over his shoulder.

The second robber was described as white, 5ft 10in and of slim build. He was wearing a light grey hooded top with the hood up, matching tracksuit bottoms, yellow gloves and carrying a light blue bag.

Anyone with information should call Ashton CID on 0161 856 8954 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.