A CONVENIENCE store and a chip shop were targeted during armed robberies in Widnes on Saturday night.

Two men brandishing an axe entered the M&S Lateshop on Derby Road with their faces covered shortly before 9.15pm on February 8.

They demanded that a member of staff hand over cigarettes before stealing a quantity of sweets and fleeing in the direction of Peel House Fish Bar.

Minutes later, the same robbers are believed to have entered the nearby Peel House Fish Bar.

The pair ordered food but claimed to have no money and demanded that employees hand over the till.

They then produced a knife and made threats to staff before leaving empty handed.

Cheshire Police say the suspects were both white, slim and aged between 16 and 19 – with neither having any facial hair.

One of them was of average height with dark brown hair and a centre parting, while the other was shorter and had mid-length dark hair.

Detective inspector Ian Whiley said: “All that the offenders stole was a quantity of sweets, but these were frightening incidents for the people working at the businesses they targeted.

“The offenders were armed, and we are determined to establish their identities and make them face the consequences of their actions.

“Enquiries are ongoing and as part of our investigation we are appealing for anyone who was in the area and believes they saw the offenders, or recognises their descriptions and thinks they may know who they are, to contact us at Widnes Police Station.

“We also want to hear from anyone who believes they may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the offenders.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number IML632336, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.