THREE men are being hunted after robbing a shop in Sale.

Police were called to the Co-op store in Washway Road, on Sunday, April 1, before 7am.

The shop had been opening for the day when two men walked in. One of them asked the shop assistant to fill a can with water.

While he was distracting the shop assistant, the other man threatened a cashier with a screwdriver and demanded money.

The shop assistant saw what was happening and was subsequently assaulted, before a third man came from across the street and joined the robbers.

He sprayed a fire extinguisher into the store, to further distract staff, before all three fled from the shop with cash and cigarettes.

They fled along Stanley Mount Road, where they escaped in a black Ford Fiesta.

Detective Constable Gareth Richards, of GMP’s Trafford borough, said: “While this was clearly an amateur attempt, these offenders caused significant distress to the people working in the shop at the time.

“We have released CCTV images of men we would like to speak to in connection with the incident and are asking with the public’s help to identify who they are.

“If you saw anything suspicious that morning, or have information that could help with our investigation, please get in touch with police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 622 of 01/04/18 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.