A mother told today how she feared an armed robber was going to shoot her five-year-old daughter during a hold-up at her Bradford shop.

Shopkeeper Chancal Patel, 31, said she was terrified when a man with a handgun robbed her off licence in Horton Grange at 3pm yesterday.

She said the man pointed the gun first at her and then at her daughter Jigna as he frantically pressed the buttons on the till and demanded money.

"I was very frightened and angry," said Mrs Patel. "He even pointed the gun at my little girl and I was very scared he was going to shoot her."

The robber is described as Asian, 5ft 10ins, slim, in his mid-20s, with shoulder-length black hair, and was wearing a white woolly jumper and black jeans

Acting Detective Inspector Paul Fountain, of Toller Lane Police, said: "This is a very serious crime. Obviously, the shopkeeper was badly frightened when she had what they thought was a handgun pointed right at them. We are following a couple of lines of inquiry." Anyone who witnessed the robbery or has any information can call Toller Lane CID on (01274) 376285.

Meanwhile, police are appealing for witnesses to two armed robberies in Bradford on Thursday.

The first was at W&S Waters newsagents in Park Road at 12.30pm when the shop assistant was threatened with what appeared to be a silver gun.

The offender demanded money but made off with cigarettes towards the Elizabeth Street area.

He was described as white, with olive skin, medium build, between 5ft 2ins and 5ft 5ins tall, aged about 23, with dark brown short hair and wearing a red jacket and jeans.

The second robbery happened at 8.45pm in Mannville Terrace.

Two women, who had just withdrawn cash from a cashpoint, were threatened by two men, one of whom was holding what appeared to be a silver coloured handgun.

They demanded money and made off with cash in an old car. The first offender was described as of Asian appearance, 5ft 7ins tall, in his early 20s, with short dark hair and baggy clothing.

The second man who carried the gun was described as having dark skin, 5ft 7ins tall, in his late teens or early 20s with blond hair and wearing a nylon jacket with a hood.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 01274 376459 or 0800 555111.

They are particularly keen to speak to a blonde woman in a silver-coloured car who may have witnessed the second robbery.

Detectives say they are keeping an open mind as to whether the robberies are linked.

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