Shopkeeper is assaulted in Essington robbery bid

It happened just hours after thieves broke into a Cannock nail salon and stole cash.

During the store robbery at Hill Green Grocery in Essington, the men pulled up on a motorbike before entering the shop.

The shopkeeper was assaulted but not seriously injured.

Jayesh Patel, aged 47, who owns the Hill Street Grocery and Off Licence, said he was just about to close his shop when he saw two men pull up outside on a motorbike.

He said: "One of them had a metal bar so I thought something bad was going to happen. They came up to the counter and started shouting they wanted money and cigarettes, but I didn't give them anything. I just wanted to protect myself and my wife.

"One of them leaned over the counter with the metal bar and I grabbed it off him. Then they ran out of the shop."

Mr Patel said this is the second time his store has been targeted after raiders made off with cash and cigarettes in 2011.

Nothing was stolen during the raid, which happened at 6.30pm yesterday, and the men fled empty-handed

The scrambler motorbike had a white mud guard and no number plate. Both men were white and in their late teens or early 20s and wearing full face helmets.

The main rider had a mirrored visor which was purple and blue and was wearing a black bomber-type jacket. Detectives have launched an investigation.

Councillor David Clifft said he would hold a meeting with businesses in the area about the possibility of surveillance.

He said: "I feel for the people who run the shop and because of the fact this is the second time. They are staunch supporters of the community of Essington so it is sad this has happened."

The raid happened hours after a nail salon in Cannock was broken into and cash taken during an early morning burglary in Cannock. The break-in happened at Posh Nails in Walsall Road.

Staffordshire Police is now appealing for witnesses to call 101.

The burglary happened between 7.30-7.50am yesterday.