A fearless shopkeeper chased gunmen out of his shop by throwing cans of cat food at them.

Three masked men armed with a hand gun entered the shop in Radcliffe, Bury, and pointed a handgun at the middle-aged shopkeeper.

But the 53-year-old businessman charged over the counter and began throwing cat foods at the gang. Stunned customers, including mums and children, watched as the gang fled empty-handed and ran into a waiting car.

The crooks were Asian men wearing dark clothes, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 10ins. The incident happened at the Lord Street premises at 12.30pm Thursday.

Det Con Peter Graham, of Bury CID, said: "What this man did was courageous - in sharp contrast to the cowardly actions of the robbers themselves.

"With no thought to his own safety he fought them off and they fled with their tails between their legs.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Bury CID on 0161 856 8150 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.