Three young teens were buying sweets at Premier Store on Harrowside, South Shore, when two masked men burst in.

Wearing balaclavas and waving claw hammers, the menacing thugs demanded cash and cigarettes from the sales assistant.

As the terrified shop worker held up his hands to protect his face (see picture below), one of the raiders issued the chilling warning "Open the till or I'm going to slash you".

The raiders then went behind the counter to fill a bag with cigarettes and empty the till.

Police say the young customers could only watch in horror as the robbery was carried out.

PC Tracey Gallagher, of Blackpool Police's robbery squad, said: "This was a terrifying attack on staff at the store.

"It was particularly nasty as it happened in front of three very scared children who were frozen with fear."

The robbery happened at 8pm last Thursday.

Both men escaped in the direction of Brixham Place, but it is not known if they had a getaway car waiting for them or continued to run off on foot.

Officers are now keen to speak to anyone who saw the two men running away from the shop or saw them get into a vehicle.

PC Gallagher added: "We're very keen to identify the offenders and hope members of the public can help, especially as the men were both wearing distinctive clothing.

"While there are significant lines of inquiry we are also relying on any members of the public who may have witnessed this robbery or seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area prior to it taking place."

Both men are thought to be white and wearing balaclavas.

The first was 5ft 6in tall, of medium build, wearing a black hooded jacket, possibly a tracksuit, with silver or white stripes running from the shoulders into the armpit and a silver logo, possibly Nike, running across the chest.

His accomplice is around 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, wearing a black Hugo Boss hooded jacket with orange piping and a logo on the hood.

The children who were in the shop at the time are now being offered support by officers investigating the case.

Anyone with information is urged to call Blackpool Police on (01253) 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.