Sad: Armed robbers hack shopkeeper's head with a MACHETE in Manchester

This is the moment a shopkeeper who tried to defend his shop from a pair of masked robbers was hit on the head with a machete (circled) and fell to floor. He later needed surgery to wounds to the top of his head

 Police have released CCTV footage of a shocking robbery in which a shopkeeper was hacked at with a machete as he tried to defend his shop.

The footage shows two masked men burst into a convenience shop in the Monton area of Salford last month before demanding the till be opened.

After the shopkeeper pulled out a baseball bat, he was attacked by the two men, one of whom repeatedly struck him on the head with a machete.

 The shop worker required surgery for a large wound to the top of his head following the attack, which happened shortly before 8.30pm on Friday March 27.

Two masked men had burst into the store, one jumping over the counter while another stood guard at the shop's entrance.

The shop worker refused to hand over his money and tried to fight them off with the bat.

But as he grappled, one raider held him on the counter while the other hit him over the head with the large hunting knife, which was hidden in a sock.

He was left bloodied and injured as the robbers fled with cash and cigarettes and ran down Park Road towards Eccles Park and Ellesmere Road.

Police released the horrific footage as they launched an appeal for information on the robbery.

Detective Constable Derek Nellany of Greater Manchester Police said: 'I am appalled at the level of violence and intimidation used by the men on an innocent shop assistant who was just doing his job. The man was trying to protect the business but in doing so was brutally attacked.

'The offenders both wore very distinctive clothing and I ask people to have a good look at the footage and if you recognise the men in the images or the distinctive clothing, please contact police immediately.'

The man with the machete is described as white and in his late teens to early 20s. He wore a facemask and a black top with a thick light-coloured strip down both arms and a white T-shirt over the top, and black trousers.

The other man is also a white male around the same age. He wore a blue hooded top with the words California Pasadena in large lettering on the back, and black trousers.

MailOnline