A SHOP owner has vowed to carry on after his shop was raided by two balaclava-clad men - one who brandished a gun and forced a staff member to hand over money and cigarettes. 

The robbers, who were dressed in black, raided Patchett's Minimarket on Halifax Road, Queensbury, between 8.15pm and 8.30pm last night. 

Shocking CCTV footage shows one man stood guarding the door, while the other points a gun towards a member of staff behind the counter. 

A carrier bag is then handed over and the pair flee the shop. 

Police, including armed officers, swooped on the scene and the police helicopter was also called out to search for the suspects. 

Anthony Bolton, 47, owns the shop with his sister Karen Coates. The pair have been there for 26 years. 

"I'm gutted," Mr Bolton said. 

"We've just said we won't be beaten by it. I just feel there's something wrong in society - something has gone wrong somewhere.

"I can't understand why people do it. What is going through their heads?

"We're feeling quite angry, but you've just to keep going.

"I don't know what the answer is - it's a society thing, it's respect. 

"You are just waiting for it to happen, with everything that's going on around here. There's a lot more of them. 

"You just think, when is it going to be me?"

Mr Bolton praised Chris Bruce, who was working at the time.

He said: "He's done really well. He's shaken up but I'm really impressed with him."

Nobody else was in the shop at the time and nobody was harmed in the raid. 

Mr Bruce, 27, who has worked at the shop for five years, said: "It's scary and it's terrifying to be involved in.

"I couldn't get much sleep after - it's a horrible thing to go through.

"It was scary, but I wasn't looking at the gun, or him.

"From their point of view [the business] it can close businesses down."

And sending a message to the perpetrators, he said: "Think about the victims, think about how it can affect them.

"I can't work out what goes through people's heads."

Mr Bruce has worked in retail for a number of years and says he has never experienced anything as serious. 

The store has appealed to nearby residents and businesses to check their CCTV to see if they have footage of the men. 

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for information following a shop robbery in Queensbury last night.

"At around 8.18pm two males wearing balaclavas walked into Patchett’s Mini Market in Ford.

"One of the males was carrying what was believed to be a small pistol.

"A quantity of cash and cigarettes was taken and the males ran off towards Moor Close Avenue.

"Armed officers attended and carried out a search for the suspects but to no gain.

"Enquiries are continuing today and anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford District CID on 101, quoting 13180039771.

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."