THIS is the moment a raider wearing a Halloween skeleton mask terrified a shopkeeper and his wife during a gunpoint robbery.

Two men - the other wearing ski goggles and a scarf over his face - threatened the pair with a handgun as they demanded cash.

When the shopkeeper refused to hand over money, the thug wearing the skeleton mask sprayed CS gas in his face while his accomplice vaulted the counter and snatched £100 before they fled.

The robbers struck at Shanghani Stores, in Halshaw Lane, Kearsley, at 8.40pm on Thursday night.

Detectives have appealed to readers of The Bolton News to help trace the pair, and the shop where the distinctive mask was sold.

Manju Shanghani, who runs the store with her husband, Ajit, told of her terror at the raid.

"I was so scared," said Mrs Shanghani, aged 40.

"When they came in, one of the men jumped on to the counter and went for the till.

"My husband ran round the other side and he got pushed back. I started to scream and pushed the alarm button.

"The second man sprayed me and my husband with the pepper spray. My husband could not see for a couple of minutes but I think the fact I was wearing my glasses protected me."

Mrs Shanghani and her husband chased the pair out of the store, but the men escaped in a white M-registered Vauxhall Corsa which had been reported stolen from Swinton earlier this week.

Mrs Shanghani and her 44-year-old husband have run the store for the last three months.

The store was empty at the time of the robbery apart from the Shanghani's 14-year-old son, Samir.

Darren Wiggans, of Bolton CID, said: "The shopkeeper and his wife were absolutely terrified by this attack.

"One of the robbers wore a very distinctive skeleton-type mask and I'm hoping that someone will be able to help us trace it.

"If somebody has sold this mask or seen it since the offence I would be very keen to hear from them."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.