RAIDERS wearing skeleton masks carried out a terrifying Halloween hold-up at a convenience store.
The two men were carrying a gun-shaped object in a Tesco carrier bag when they targeted the Spar, Beckhampton Road, Bestwood Park, at 6.20am yesterday.
They threatened assistant manager Terry Harper before escaping with cash and cigarettes.
Mr Harper was stacking magazines when the two intruders entered.
"I was just sorting the magazines out as normal and the next thing I know someone is right in front of me and then someone else is going behind the counter," he said.
"They just told me to open the till. The one next to me had something wrapped in a Tesco bag which was the shape of a gun.
"I didn't have time to react. I just listened to what they said and did as they told me."
The robbers left the shop and ran round the corner. It is not known whether they got into a vehicle.
Manager Joy Heath lives above the shop and heard the robbery. She said it had been robbed seven years previously, when she was held at gunpoint. "It makes you angry more than anything," she said.
"But when they have anything that looks like a gun you just don't take the chance. If they say they've got something you believe them and do exactly what they say.
"As long as everyone is okay I'm not bothered about anything else."
Mrs Heath did not see the robbers but examined CCTV afterwards and said: "They were Hallowe'en-type masks. They looked like they had skeleton faces on them."
Full descriptions of the offenders are not yet available but Mrs heath said one was about 5ft 4in and the other about 5ft 8in.
The incident shocked Mrs Heath, who said it has been quiet in the area for a while.
"The last time anything happened was six or seven years ago and that's it," she said.
"Normally it's okay down here so it is a bit of a shock to see it happening again. People have been saying 'not again' but it is actually quiet round here in general."
Police confirmed they are investigating.
A spokesman said: "Two men went into the premises, threatened the shop assistant and ran off with a quantity of cash and cigarettes.
"No one was injured and enquiries are ongoing. No weapons were seen during the incident."
Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call DS Dave Prest at Oxclose Lane CID on 101 extension 803 4438, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
