A lone gunman fired a warning shot into a wall during a terrifying raid at a Bradford petrol station.

The raider blasted a hole in an interior wall with a shotgun after a brave cashier initially refused his demands for cash.

The male member of staff was then forced to hand over an amount of money from the till before the robber fled to a getaway car.

The robbery happened at 4.40am yesterday, at the Shell petrol station in Haworth Road, Chellow Heights – the scene of a shooting murder more than a decade ago.

In yesterday’s raid, a masked man, armed with what is believed to be a shotgun, walked into the garage’s shop and demanded money from the cashier. Another staff member was stacking shelves at the back of the shop.

When the cashier refused, the suspect discharged the shotgun at a wall, causing minor damage. He then fled with a quantity of cash from the till. No-one was injured in the incident.

The suspect is believed to have fled the scene in a silver Ford hatchback car, which had been parked opposite the garage, heading back up Haworth Road towards Sandy Lane.

He was described as white, about 5ft tall, slim and was dressed in black and wearing a black mask.

Detective Inspector Richard Partis, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “This is clearly a serious incident and it is very fortunate no-one was injured. It is important we locate this individual as quickly as possible.”

He said there was no suggestion the gunman had aimed at the cashier.

Margaret and Peter Holland, who have lived in Haworth Road for 45 years, said that since the garage started opening 24 hours a day it had been “hell on earth”.

Mrs Holland said: “Cars come out of the garage and race each other. It never used to be like this.

“We cannot believe the difference. It has really deteriorated round here. In the sixties you never heard of guns, it was so quiet, but with it being all night you are scared of crime.

“I go in the shop every day, I could have been in there when it happened, it’s terrifying.”

Resident Mohammed Azam said: “It’s a hotspot of crime, house robberies, I hear a lot about it, usually around winter time when it’s dark nights.

“Living here, nowhere is safe but it is a bit scary you’re not safe in your own homes.”

Anyone who witnessed the robbery, saw the suspect’s car during or after the robbery, or has any information, should contact Airedale and North Bradford CID, on 101, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

  • instantly when he was shot twice in the head in an execution-style revenge murder as he sat in a car on the forecourt of the filling station in September, 2001.