A HAMMER-wielding raider fled in fright — when a shopkeeper fought back and broke his nose.

Two men stormed into the G & E Spar shop in Ribble Drive, Whitefield, and one jumped over the counter and threatened staff with a lump hammer.

But shop assistant Craig Brisbane fought back and elbowed the masked thug in the nose, knocking him to the floor. Mr Brisbane then threw him back over the counter, before the pair fled from the shop.

The astonishing scene was witnessed by a queue of seven shoppers around 8.10pm last Wednesday (November 11), who gave Mr Brisbane a round of applause.

It is the fourth time this year the convenience store has been targeted and bosses have stepped up security in response to the latest raid.

Mr Brisbane, who lives in Prestwich, said: "It all happened in about 11 seconds.

"I saw the two lads run into the shop wearing balaclavas and before I knew it, one of them leapt across the counter and was right there and I could see he was holding a lump hammer.

"I didn't think about it or weigh up the risk. Instinct took over and I raised my elbow and struck him in the nose. I think I broke it.

"The other robber was up on the counter. As soon as he saw what happened, he ran off, and his mate joined him.

"There were lots of people there at the time. Some of them were shocked but I know that the robbers were aware that they would have been outnumbered if they had have stayed longer.

"Afterwards, the police asked me if I had suffered any injury and I told them no, just a sore elbow," added Mr Brisbane, who is a well-known local historian.

In February this year, The Guide reported that four masked men burst into the shop and threatened two workers with a hammer and a crowbar.

They fled with £1,000 and, afterwards, store manager Colin Higson praised his staff for showing resilience in such a difficult situation.

There have since been two other raids - one of which was just two weeks ago.

Mr Brisbane added: "My son, Andrew, who is 21, works there too and it happened to him when he was training a new worker. It's horrible to have to go through something like that. These people have no conscience."

A Spar spokesman was unavailable for comment.

It is understood CCTV footage of the November 11 incident has been made available to police.

A Bury Police spokesman confirmed the incident took place and appealed for anyone with information to call 101.