POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery by a man with a revolver style gun at a shop in Crewe.

At 9.40pm on Tuesday,  August 6, a man approached the News Food and Booze store in Laura Street from the alleyway in Claughton Avenue.

He entered the store and threatened staff with a revolver style hand gun and demanded they hand over money.

It has not been established whether the gun was real or imitation. The weapon was not discharged and no injuries were reported.

The three staff agreed to hand over money but the man ran off empty handed back down the alleyway to Claughton Avenue.

He then crossed Claughton Avenue and entered another alleyway which led to The Circle where he ran past two women walking in the same direction.

The offender is described as white, of medium build and about 5ft 8ins. He was wearing dark clothing including a hooded jacket and boots.

DC Jessica Kusiar said: "Thankfully the women were not injured during their ordeal.

"Incidents such as this are rare and, although no firearm was discharged and no injuries were reported, we take any incidents of this nature extremely seriously and will do all we can to trace whoever is responsible.

"In order to help us progress with our enquiries we are particularly keen to speak to the two women the offender ran past in The Circle just after the offence was committed."

Anyone with information should contact DC Jessica Kusiar on 101 quoting incident number 1035 of 6 August 2013.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.